Earth: A Rendezvous with Destiny

by We'retheDesperateMeasures-ODST

The 1960s as a decade was just as memorable: The 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was never assassinated and Vietnam was a victory for the West. But not all was well on Planet Earth yet when threatened with conquest by the Sith Empire, the nations of the world became co-belligerents of the Republic, in a collision course that became a rendevous with destiny.

21. Reservations

George Walton Lucas, Junior - Taking the gradual steps of producing " Star Wars"

Roddenberry Residence - Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:22:16 ATC / Friday, August 22nd, 1969 - 18:45 / 6:45 PM

"You know, at times I wished the interview with that Assyriologist, Doctor Northcott, would've panned out and it's a shame that there was a scheduling conflict." George lamented as he began harboring some doubts over the entire concept, wondering if this fresh venture would even be profitable and if the risks were worth it. "Archeology at times sounds more exciting than space wizards." The aspiring director was aware that there was even this fringe theory that the Sumerians were visited by Ancient Astronauts, most prominently promoted by a Swissman named Erich von Däniken in his book 'Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past' and while such a subject could have been jokingly raised with the Assyriologist, George as well as his friend Stephen Spielberg were envisioning more of an action-adventure where an intrepid archaeologist would be preventing the misuse of powerful artifacts and it did have an appeal to the duo but the meeting never occurred as the archeologist originally from Haverford, Pennsylvania was heading back to Iraq for another season of excavating while Spielberg and Lucas were still in the process of wrapping up the film Finian's Rainbow .

"I have confidence in this venture as otherwise I wouldn't have invested in it." Gene asserted reassuringly as it was in his opinion the truth.

"Gee, thanks."

"Look, we're in this together and I have confidence that this will be a hit at the box office, George." The creator of Star Trek reiterated before thinking of a certain matter of discourse with, interestingly for instance, Governor Ronald Reagan, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and unsurprisingly the Dalai Lama being among the few vocal supporters of the Jedi's perspective on a certain phenomenon. "Okay, maybe the Force is at times derided as the ' Farce ', especially by Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell, not to mention this astronomer, Carl Sagan, using scientific instead of theological arguments against its validity but we shouldn't let the prevalent skepticism hold us back. People are superstitious by nature and if we finally have confirmation of life existing beyond Earth, then reasonably Sasquatch could be confirmed next."

"Hey, now that doesn't sound like a bad idea!" Lucas beamed as he heard a suggestion. "Maybe after this, we can find Sasquatch."

"One step at a time, George." Sailer advised, butting in. "One step at a time. We barely even started formatting Star Wars ."

Lucas nodded at the advice as creating a film, especially a successful one, couldn't be rushed. "Well, that's funny as we won the bid with the Department of Defense." The aspiring actor waved the Western Union telegram showing the contract for ' Lucasfilms '.

"William Shatner is doing the voiceover of course." Gene grinned.

"Contract for what, exactly?" Sailer wondered. "I didn't hear anything about it."

"Some propaganda film to exaggerate the capabilities of the F-104 Starfighter." Gene summarized with a shrug.

"But those aren't space-capable, not to mention the name was a coincidence before we even knew anything about our neighbors." The scriptwriter pointed out.

"I believe that the United States Air Force is aware." George muttered as he read the contents and handed it to Sailer.

"Ha! A rather fitting red herring! No wonder Shatner is doing his opening monologue to introduce the coincidentally named ' Starfighter '."

"In order for the charade to be successful, you need a ' Starfighter ' after all and the F-104 is available." Lucas smirked, still enjoying the humorous coincidences he had been discovering about the rest of the known universe with each passing day. _

---

General of the Army Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower - Head of the Coalesced Forces from Earth

Roof - Diplomat Hotel, Plains of Coruscant, Galactic City, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:22:16 ATC / Friday, August 22nd, 1969 - 11:05/11:05 AM

In a scene reminiscent of grilling on top of the White House and after making reservations with the hoteliers, Eisenhower was once again broiling steak on the roof only this time it was at the top of the prestigious Diplomat Hotel on the ecumenopolis of Coruscant and aside from the strip steaks which were salted and garlic-rubbed then cooked directly on hot charcoal for a very crispy, charred crust, the cookout had coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and corn-on-the-cob yet it was not all pleasure as Ike was going to use the seemingly innocent gathering to raise a matter of importance.

"Thanks, Ike." The Colonel in charge of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, George Smith Patton IV, smiled as he cut into his steak. "David? Can you please pass the A1?"

The United States Naval officer and grandson of Ike looked around but didn't see the brand-name steak sauce and yet another man seated at the table, Arthur MacArthur IV, the son and only child of Douglas MacArthur and presently a Second Lieutenant in the 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment, passed the condiment over to Patton after spotting it.

"Here you are, sir."

"Thank you."

Meanwhile, near the grill, Gotthard Fedor August Heinrici was standing and watching the primitive yet effective methodology that the 34th President of the United States perfected from boyhood and in fact he used to astonish guests by throwing enormously thick steaks directly on a bed of smoldering coals in what became sensationally known as the 'Eisenhower Method'.

"Thank you for the Grillparty."

"Now, now, Gotthard, you didn't have to come, you know." Eisenhower grinned at the German. "This isn't a surrender ceremony after all."

Heinrici rolled his eyes and his nose was showing signs of irksomeness at the minor jab from a former foe but he brushed it off. "I bet Bernard does not have a legitimate excuse for his absence and he's doing it out of spite."

"Bernard will always be, well, himself." Eisenhower sighed as he reflected on the egotistical, self-worshiping, attention-driven personality of the Limey. His thoughts were interrupted when everyone heard knocking.

"Not sure if it's them but I'll get it." Manfred Rommel, the son of The Desert Fox himself, offered as the Luftwaffe officer stood up from his seat to answer.

"Apologies for the tardiness." David excused. "Took time to convince my father to attend."

"I'm not surprised." Manfred nodded in understanding. "He still has some old grudges."

"Let's just get this bloody American cookout over with and then leave." Bernard sighed as he removed his trademark black beret and placed it on the coat hanger. "I still can't believe I'm doing this."

"Truth be told there is an excellent reason why you needed to come here anyway." The figurehead of the entire Coalition revealed. "But it can wait until dessert."

"Lovely, as we really need the sugar." The Spartan General grumbled further. "Hopefully this won't be long."

---

Colonel George Smith Patton IV - Commanding Officer of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, United States Army

Room 201, Fifty-Ninth Floor - Diplomat Hotel, Plains of Coruscant, Galactic City, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:22:16 ATC / Friday, August 22nd, 1969 - 14:30/2:30 PM

"If this is important, sir, then why are we hearing it?" The spawn of Old Blood and Guts wondered.

"As a precaution since undoubtedly just like the Empire might try something with you all in an attempt to pressure us or our respective governments, so could Saresh." Ike divulged as he had come to hold reservations on the Supreme Chancellor and Connery's errand did manage to find something but as it was heavily encrypted it would take time for the cryptanalysts to crack it and reveal the contents of the whole scheme. "Now while we're still attempting to unravel what that Hitlerette's intentions are exactly with our common planet and how deep the Imperial infiltration is, we need to prepare for any worst-case scenario from exploitation to annexation and janissaries to outright eradication."

Monty rolled his eyes at the utterance of 'eradication' but the Briton knew that it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibilities if the Republic just decided to blow Earth to smithereens with some superweapon if subjugation doesn't work out.

"No matter what, the primary concern is still the Sith Empire but it's becoming evident that we cannot completely rely on the word of the Chancellor anymore. Still, what I revealed to you stays in this room and it's between us for now, understood?"

"So we're keeping up a charade?" Manfred humored.

"Exactly." The former President of the United States declared. "The rules in this galaxy are more complex and arguably unfamiliarly nonsensical compared to back home, almost as if the Laws of Physics are consistently broken such as sounds being emitted in space despite being a vacuum, but even with the outlandishness in mind, war, war never changes. As long as an individual soldier is willing to fight with the latest tool at his disposal, then he will do so but as the adage goes: 'Keep your friends close but your enemies closer'. I have noticed from past meetings that Saresh is manipulative and conniving which means she cannot be trusted at all."

"Ja, even I have been wary to speak to her. That's how much she reminds me of das Fürher."

"What about Konev?" The Spartan General wondered. "Should we bring him into this?"

"Not as of this time as I don't know if we can trust him." Ike sighed before clarifying. "I don't believe that Moscow is in league with Saresh but I don't doubt that Khrushchev and Shaoqi for that matter have their own separate agendas, we may be allies again but that doesn't mean that the Cold War hasn't ceased. Anyway, watch your backs. There's no telling what she's capable of."

---

Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Stepanovich Konev - Commander in Chief of Warsaw Pact and Communist Forces

Room 1242, Forty-First Floor - Diplomat Hotel, Plains of Coruscant, Galactic City, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:22:16 ATC / Friday, August 22nd, 1969 - 14:30/2:30 PM

"Eisenhower is foolishly naive." The Marshal of the Soviet Union declared while pacing near his desk. "Da, he's aware of Saresh's manipulative behavior but there's no indication that he's suspicious of her motivations and that's truly unfortunate as I'm concerned about the suka's intentions with our glorious Motherland and her sons."

"So, what should we do, comrade? We can't overtly drag Saresh out of her office and force her to kneel before aiming a Makarov at the back of her cranium, not without vindication and public support for the execution that is."

"GRU will watch the Supreme Chancellor closely." Konev ordered. "And if our worst fears are realized, we can see if those unfortunate souls in the underworld with nothing else to lose could be...persuaded to rise up against the Bourgeoisie of the upper levels, just to help even the odds for us."

"But that could spark World War Three back home, Marshal Konev! The nations not aligned with us and entirely against us wouldn't stand for Communist Supremacy even if it's the way forward!"

Ivan curled his lips to allow a sly smirk to form on his mug. "Perhaps, and you do raise a fair point, but if the result is NATO being outnumbered by billions of fellow comrades …?"

"Ah." The other subordinate realized. "We can spread the teachings of Marx across the stars and overwhelm our enemies through sheer might alone. The Space Fascists, NATO, even the Hutts will have no other recourse but to go extinct under the might of the red banner!"

After retrieving shot glasses for himself and his two officers, Konev grabbed a fine bottle of Wuliang Chun liquor from the presentation box gifted to him by Chairman Liu Shaoqi personally in Beijing with Primer Khrushchev and Kim Il-sung looking on. "Realpolitik at its finest. All we need to do is to bide our time and know for certain before we roll the dice and play this card as unwittingly Saresh would be causing her downfall. China is inevitably joining the Warsaw Pact officially soon enough and if this course is followed as predicted, it would be only a matter of time before Communism spreads even if Nikita and Liu believe in peaceful coexistence with the capitalists."

"But what if the prediction is wrong?" The first subordinate wondered after accepting his drink. "What if Saresh is just a typical politician of a rotten capitalist system?"

"Then we'll just have to follow the Politburo's peaceful coexistence plan." The Marshal sighed. "Either way, I believe capitalism will be dust sometime in the near future. It is inevitable for Communism to reign and the fools of the West just hate to admit it."

---

Leontyne Saresh- Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic

Supreme Chancellor's Office - Senate Building, Senate District, Galactic City, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:22:16 ATC / Friday, August 22nd, 1969 - 14:30/2:30 PM

"Well, it looks like we're going to be forced to upgrade our security systems procedures, again. " Leontyne groaned as she personally assessed the damage inflicted on her office under heavy guard. "Thankfully I was away at a conference when that Imperial Assassin struck."

"He even managed to get through the encryption and as much as I hate to admit it we'll have to assume that everything on your computer is compromised."

"Did Eisenhower propose a meeting recently? Something about a joint operation?"

"Err, yes, yes he did, Your Excellency." The Vice Chair and one of her closest confidants, Evran, confirmed. "It's supposed to help address concerns of combined operations and hopefully repair the strain relations with the SIS and the Jedi."

"We're going to have to clean this mess up and overhaul everything. Have the meeting set in two days from today and we'll have to play dumb with Uplift by hinting at it being an Imperial ruse."

"Understood."

---

Doctor Grawhmet Phoz - Republic Medical Corps

Kuat City, Medical Station - Kuat, Kuat Sector, Kuat System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:23: 16 ATC / Saturday, August 23rd, 1969 - 16:40 / 4:40 PM

"Damn, he got lucky." Doctor Grawhmet Phoz noted as he read the file on the patient currently getting treated in the bacta tank. "In addition to the melee, that lightsaber only pierced his spleen, what damage the burning had done to the surrounding tissue was thankfully not as severe as we feared, but he's gonna be sore after the kind of surgery we had to do on him. Crazy that he managed to take a Sith on hand-to-hand."

"You tell me. And to think we only have to deal with lightsaber wounds in rarer cases, most tend to find out the hard way when engaging Sith Warriors in close quarters."

Doctor Phoz nodded at the Rodian nurse's assessment, still getting used to the straightforward fact that the lack of midichlorians, a literal case of asepsis, negated the complete usage of Force Powers on Earthlings, making telekinesis and sensing their presence by Jedi and Sith alike an exercise in vanity. "I'm still unsure if it makes our job somewhat easier or harder but I suppose it's an advantage when it comes to dealing with wounds by not having to worry about Force-based ailments. No asphyxiation through telekinetically choking, no Force draining, not even causing insanity…. That we know of anyway, just trauma from Lightsabers, Blasterfire, shrapnel, etcetera."

"That reminds me. There's a new theory on midichlorians, about how they're ' Conduits of the Force '."

Doctor Phoz's ears perked up at the news as it sounded interesting. "Oh?"

"Well, they did inadvertently make the Jedi begin questioning previous notions about the Force after all once the facts of the complete omission in their galaxy were revealed." The nurse declared as she nudged her shoulder at the tank holding the patient with the given name of Hanzo Elwood Nilsson displayed in Aurebesh, the middle and surname they had learned were interestingly Swedish, a nationality from Earth, while his first name was another known as Japanese, this made Hanzo a rather unique mix of ethnicity.

The Doctor rolled his eyes as it should've been obvious. The millennia-old gospel theory that midichlorians were vital for life had been challenged and arguably even was completely invalidated by the open existence of those breathing vigorously without the specific cells in their bloodstream.

"So, I think we can reasonably start surgery on him in two days, give the bacta time to settle." Phoz determined as he brought up the scanner to analyze the internals.

"Doctor?"

"Or maybe not." Grawhmet mused. "The regenerative properties of the bacta healed up his wounds. He might be able to walk around soon in a few days after rest."

---

Master Roa Tec - Barsen'thor of the Jedi Order

Jedi Council Chambers - Jedi Temple, Tython, Tython System, Deep Core, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:23: 16 ATC / Saturday, August 23rd, 1969 - 16:40 / 4:40 PM

Jedi Master Roa recently returned from the known gap in the so-called 'Hyperspace Disturbance beyond the Edge of the Galaxy' extracting microorganisms and nanobacterium samples from those closest to Earth, the Asteroid Belt, and meteorites near the gap before venturing back to Tython, a four-month long expedition that was coordinated with the Jedi Exploration Corps and Republic Survey Corps under the veil of charting more efficient hyperlanes for strategic military purposes, which was only part of the truth.

The shockwave of the nonexistent presence of the Force, not a simple void but a complete and total absence was challenging to give credence to, which was why investigating a chance at potential refutation no matter the odds was a gamble the Order was willing to take but the venture Roa partook in was mournfully all in fruitlessness.

"Barsen'thor Roa, Knight Grell, it has been awhile."

"I'm afraid we don't have much to report." Tec revealed. "There hasn't been anything resembling midichlorians and Nadia discovered two new species of microbes instead of the elusive objective."

There was a slight glimmer of hope, as if the Council expected him to divulge good news after the bad with a revelation of a possible evolutionary split explanation but the Barsen'thor revealed the facts.

"But when we attempted to levitate the microorganisms out of the petri dish, it didn't respond to Force Lift, as if we weren't doing anything to remove them."

"Our arms got sore from trying to telekinetically manipulate all the samples we gathered." Nadia added.

"Well, I suppose we're gonna have to accept reality and not disregard the irrefutable truth." Master Giffus Fane accepted halfheartedly.

"Now that does leave us with the new theory which was recently hypothesized by Master Gehnso." Master Gnost-Dural brought up. "Midichorians being not essential for life but instead are ' Conduits of the Force '."

"Conduits of the Force?"

"Remember how we determined that Earthlings cannot be classified as voids in the Force due to the neighboring galaxy not being connected to it in the first place?" The Barsen'thor evoked before reporting his findings. "Well, after reading Master Gehnso's report on comparing the DNA of creatures native to Earth and their known closest counterparts in the galaxy, there has to be a link between possessing Midichlorians and being bound to the Force. While the exclusion of Midichlorians may explain the nonsusceptibility, it doesn't explain why inanimate objects indigenous to the Milky Way cannot be manipulated."

"You mean something or even someone implanted midichlorians in every gentlebeing native to the Galaxy?" Master Wens Aleusis realized. "And for that matter, Earthlings could be a case of parallel evolution when the cosmos materialized or implausibly some civilization conducted mass genetic experimentation on everyone else, only to stop before reaching the Milky Way?"

"As outlandish as it may be compared to the parallel evolution theory, the Rakatans did conquer the entire galaxy eons ago and enslaved about every known species including humanity." Roa considered the likelihood of the civilization somehow being responsible, not willing to entirely dismiss it as a possibility even if it sounded illogical. "But then again, why would they spread midichlorians en masse into non-sentient creatures as well? And for what benefit?"

"That's like saying this aspiring holofilm-director, George Lucas, created the entire universe and dreamed up the cells one day for this ' Star Wars ' film he's producing." Master Nikil Nobil snorted, skeptical of the new theories that potentially discredited all prior understanding of the manifestation of life in the universe.

"Though it would be rather funny I suppose if this was a case of breaking the fourth wall." Nadia chuckled, earning a look from Roa and the assembled Council. "What?"

"Perhaps we should move on and discuss the director's and Roddenberry's scheduled visit to Tython a few months from now?" The Grandmaster suggested as the mystery honestly was a confounding headache. "Obviously we can't permit them to access the archives containing forbidden knowledge even if supervised but we could offer to chaperone them around the sites Revan and the Ebon Hawk were known to have journeyed to."

"Agreed. It's better to speculate until Master Gehnso can explain her theory in person."

---

Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Alpha, Second Squad, First Platoon, C/Charlie Company, Second Raider Battalion "Carlson's Raiders", Second Raider Regiment, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps

Fort Duqua Dar - Quadrant G-19, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Wars, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08: 24: 16 ATC / Sunday, August 24th, 1969 - 06:45 / 6:45 AM

Jake was currently sitting on a pew in the makeshift church beside his father and paternal uncle, listening to the Reverend hosting liturgy for those of the Lutheran denomination at the allotted time for an hour and a half of worship.

The Indiana farmboy who attended services at Saint John Lutheran Church on Southeastern Avenue during boyhood momentarily scratched his head, feeling the dark flaxen strands of his side part with his hand before gazing his attention back at the Pastor preaching to the assembled congregation from the pulpit.

"And as it is written, the Lord Almighty himself is with us in this war against the Empire. Please turn to Deuteronomy Twenty, Verses One through Four."

The Hoosier flipped his personal King James Version of the Bible to read the passage:

1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

4 For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

"The Lord is with us as we confront and push back against those who've attempted to conquer the very world the creator himself has materialized, enslave his children and all the creations, not to mention spreading a path of destruction in the name of their reclusive yet influential idol Vitiate, an Emperor claimed to have lived longer than Noah back when the Lord flooded the Earth yet was merciful to Noah and his family, urging them to build the Ark and house creatures two by two." Schroöder preached. "I myself do not believe this to be the will of some supposed Force as the Jedi claimed nor do I believe, unlike Mister Brokaw of NBC, that this conflict should be entirely labeled as some holy war between them and the Sith, despite justifiably being the root cause of this mess being wrought here in this neighboring galaxy. Instead for us Americans, as part of our contribution, this is a just cause not only in the name of defense but also of spreading hope and freeing subjects wrongfully being chained up in the clutches of tyranny. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. Now let us Pray."

Jake clasped his palm and bowed his head, silent as he waited for the prayer to commence.

"Oh Almighty God, who is heaven, we here before you today humbly ask for guidance as before us we tackle an adversary willing to create needless suffering, enslave anyone and everyone who doesn't pay homage to their civilization, their leader, and their theocratic institution. We are willing and capable to help stem the tide against the relentless onslaught and stand firm alongside our valiant allies in the grand and noble cause of freedom despite the overwhelming odds against us. While we may disagree from time to time with the Galactic Republic on procedures, while we are rightfully skeptical of this so-called Force as followed and practiced by the Jedi Order, we also humbly know that despite our tactical might, we cannot neglect faith and we hope to forever remain in your good graces. In Jesus's name we pray, Amen."

"Amen."

"Thank you for your time, gentlemen. Don't forget that if you need anything, if you require someone to confide with, I'm available."

Jake stood up from the bench and turned to face his father and Uncle Steve as the services concluded.

"You know, there's certainly truth to it." Paul chuckled as he placed the current United States Army standard AG-344 green shaded service cap, part of his Class A Service Uniform, back onto his head. "It gives additional credence over this Farce and it doesn't take a genius to be skeptical."

"Ultimately those space wizards can believe in whatever they want since there are no atheists in foxholes." Stephen shrugged in his Marine Corps forest green and khaki Service Alphas before patting the cover of his bible. "I'll just place my trust in the scripture here."

"Well, unfortunately, I have to get back to my side of the barracks and make sure the men don't get overboard with their break." The father glanced at his son with annoyance. "By the way, if Junior plays that damn song ' Interstellar Overdrive' by that Limey band Pink Floyd one more time, I'll put a pineapple in his jaw and impenitently pull the pin."

The two Leathernecks, E-2 and E-7 respectively, groaned at the reminder of Kowalski's shenanigans.

"I'll take care of it, Paul." The Gunnery Sergeant vowed to his brother. "Because I had enough of listening to that tune incessantly as well."

---

Raider's Cove - Horizon Island, Rishi, Rishi System, Abrion Sector, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"

08: 24: 16 ATC / Sunday, August 24th, 1969 - 07:13 / 7:13 AM

"Well, here we are." Theron declared. "Welcome to Rishi."

"The tropical world ruled by pirates?" Lana wondered, her cloak swapped for a forest green ' Zayne Carrick' pattern flight suit while her friend also wore one but colored in ruby red.

"Jakarro knows this world like the back of his hand." The SIS Agent shrugged before taking a moment to gaze at the current attire of his blonde companion. Theron gawked at the way Lana's outfit hugged her willowy curves, never before seeing her without her distinct cloak and cape which, along with the high collar, acted as an optical illusion to hide the nubile physique well. "You know, I never thought you would look beautiful in normal clothes, Lana."

"Do you desire a blaster bolt?" Sara questioned from her position on a nearby crate as she wiped her X-15 with an oily rag. "While it is not necessary, a function check couldn't hurt."

"Errr…"

"Sorry, Theron, but my flirting days are over." Beniko sincerely declared while glaring at the overprotective and quick-to-the-trigger redhead. "You may have better luck with a Jedi even if the stoicism is taxing to grasp at times."

"Very funny, Lana." The SIS Agent snorted.

"Is it just me or did Agent Shan get rejected?" C2-D4 commented.

" Shut up, Droid!"

Sara gave off her ' What? He knows better ' glance in response to the scowl from the blonde before changing the subject. "You know, since we're here, I think we should play beach music."

"Beach music?" Lana asked with befuddlement, her gaze metamorphosing into one of confusion instead of the previous 'Seriously? I could've handled it' expression.

"Songs by The Beach Boys , Dick Dale, and The Surftones ." Kelrein clarified, grinning. "Earth has songs for every occasion."

Theron groaned at the mention of the world he was beginning to detest over a transculturation that was at an alarming warp speed - damn Star Trek ! - rate supplanting traditional music with the notable exception of what the Earthling refer to as ' Jazz ' and some other seemingly minor but popular fads such as Twinkies and Fanta.

Even Pugs were gradually becoming more popular than some Akk hound puppies in the galaxy but still it was a peril smuggling the dogs off-world without the culprits getting caught due to the zealous enforcement of the ' Quarantine Policy ' as pets for the time being were not authorized exports for trade and the spy internally shuddered at remembering news about the recent execution of smugglers in Sierra Leone trying to evade the strict, time-consuming inspection policies for both arrival and departure when a simple code authorization process without the need to inspect every incoming vessel like the Republic military conducted even at black sites would have been more efficient in his opinion.

" Star Trek , Elvis Presley, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi but now apparently there's something known as beach music. What's next? A song about this James Dean that Mister Marine mentioned?"

Sara smirked deviously as she set her freshly cleaned blaster aside and without hesitation tapped on her datapad to play Phil Ochs's 'Jim Dean of Indiana' , a eulogy to the late and reputedly famous holostar.

It was on an Indiana farm

In the middle of the country

Growin' in the fields of grain

Jim Dean of Indiana

His mother died when he was a boy

His father was a stranger

Marcus Winslow took him in

Nobody seemed to want him

The hired man sang like a storm

Sometimes he would beat him

'Cause he would never do the chores

He was lost in dreamin'

He never seemed to find a play

With the flatlands and the farmers

So he had to leave one day

He said to be an actor

"That's it. I'm outta here." The Republic spy declared as he stormed out of the room.

Once he'd come back to the farm

With starlets from the stages

They locked themselves inside his room

The people turned their faces

A neighbor run from the movie house

Chickens, they were scattered

He swore he saw upon the screen

Jim Dean of Indiana

He played a boy without a home

Torn with no tomorrow

Reaching out to touch someone

A stranger in the shadow

Sara waited until the irritated spy was out of sight before pausing the tune. "Problem solved."

"Kells? You seriously are something else."

"It's not my fault that the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order is quite an adamant Trekkie or so I have been informed."

Lana shook her head in amusement, denying that she witnessed the circumstantial shenanigans from her friend. "I honestly don't get the appeal of the holodrama but I'm sure Theron will get over it."

---

Nurse Gindra Sonnu - Republic Medical Corps

Kuat City, Medical Station - Kuat, Kuat Sector, Kuat System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08: 24: 16 ATC / Sunday, August 24th, 1969 - 07:13 / 7:13 AM

"What's the status of the patient's vitals?"

"They're stable, ma'am." The medical droid informed the nurse as the patient was tucked into the bed. "He should be waking up from the sedative in a moment."

"And I suspect from previous experience with other allies and our own soldiers he'll attempt to get back to the front." Grindra groaned as she firmly grasped her holo-chart and headed to the ward, finding the patient's room and stepping in as the doors opened for her. "Mister Nilsson?"

The human male, an Earthling specifically, was already attempting to remove the covers of his bed to escape, a record the Rodian mused. The patient, however, wisely acknowledged the presence and authority of the medical specialist.

"Yes?"

"I advise you to get back underneath the covers unless you want to be sedated. You need to rest until you're cleared." Sonnu reprimanded. "And I would rather not have to sedate anyone."

"Yes, ma'am." He relented reluctantly, laying back in the bed. Nurse Soonu sympathized with him though she was still glad that the young man was listening and showed himself to be polite despite his quietness.

"Good, rest easy, at this rate it shouldn't be too long before you're cleared."

---

First Sergeant Thomas "Tom" O'Malley - C/Charlie Company, Second Raider Battalion "Carlson's Raiders", Second Raider Regiment, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps

Fort Duqua Dar - Quadrant G-19, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Wars, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08: 24: 16 ATC / Sunday, August 24th, 1969 - 09:05 / 9:05 AM

"I still say the entire Company should have a blanket party on his ass." Harris suggested to the Company CO as part of the after-church poker game and ' unofficial meeting '. "Stephen can get his point across if need be but due to Jake's prior attempt with Heine martial music, it probably will fall on deaf ears."

"I was already one step ahead of you and it has been taken care of, Harris." Macaluso grinned, using the wit to hide the quality of his deck. "Starting today, Junior is prohibited from having access to any record players and radios for three months and during this period he's on kitchen police assisting the Food Service Specialists with peeling spuds for an hour everyday until the mess officer says otherwise."

"Thank God as otherwise somehow we would have to raise Kowalski from the dead and have him ground his boy." O'Malley muttered, not expecting that his son would turn out to be a handful. The First Sergeant took a glance at his cards and noted that for Texas Hold'em he was decent but hoped that neither Frank nor Harry - actually, Harris always hated being called Harry - had a superior hand. "But speaking of Jake, what about the matter with PFC Meyer, sir?"

"While I don't know the full details as of yet, I'm leaning towards the corrupt SIS agent theory." Frank sighed. "Maybe I should've forced that Secret Squirrel who happens to share the same last name as the senior most Jedi prioress to look elsewhere for patsies or threaten to shoot him on the spot."

"Well, what happened happened and we can only plan for the future, sir." Harris reasoned as he drew one from the deck.

"True yet it's precarious and this matter wouldn't be good for unit morale."

"Thankfully everyone in this room is disciplined enough to prevent word from leaking out about this incident." O'Malley upheld since only a few personnel have been debriefed about and made aware of the occurrence: namely Frank, Stephen, Jack, Harris, and Tom himself. "I don't like keeping this under wraps myself, especially from the men, but justice will be coming to those responsible once they're discovered and I'm sure the men would be eager for it if they knew what occurred."

"Of course, you're forgetting about me." The Captain growled. "No one messes with a fellow Marine and escapes unscathed."

"Damn fucking straight." Harris agreed sentimentally. "Mess with one Devil Dog, you mess with the entire Corps." The Gunnery Sergeant laid down his deck and grinned victoriously "Royal Flush by the way."

"Dammit!" The Captain cursed at the E-7. "And I thought my Full House was going to teach you humility, Harris."

"How did you manage to get a Royal Flush? Frank beat you twice before this."

"Guess I was lucky today." Harris shrugged at the E-8 and his old brother-in-arms from back on Makin, Pelieu, Tarawa, and even Okinawa. "Doesn't hurt that Frank was with Willy, Jimmy, and Ray on the other side of Makin."

"Very funny, Mark." Macaluso called Harris by his first name and deadpanned at the humor which pretended that he wasn't within literal earshot. "But we're all in the same Company now, not to mention that you're speaking to the commanding officer of the company or have you forgotten?"

"And Tom happens to be the Company First Sergeant, sir." Harris fired back.

"Fair point. I'll give you that." Frank relented, the former Gunnery Sergeant and Mustang officer knew that NCOs were the backbone of the armed forces.

Shaking his head in disbelief at the entire occurrence, Thomas retrieved his wallet to pay the winner as did Francis.

---

U Thant - Former Secretary-General of the United Nations and 'Unofficial Consultant' to the Secretary-General of the United Nations

Headquarters of the United Nations - 760 United Nations Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 10:00 / 10:00 AM

While sitting on a chair waiting outside the lobby of the General-Secretary's office, Thant, despite being an enthusiastic follower of the flying saucer craze, was now yearning for the days when Earth just only speculated that life could theoretically exist elsewhere in the universe instead of having it confirmed to them during First Contact as the world in a way seemed better off being ignorant of the galactic civilizations in the Condor Galaxy warring with one another.

Although Thant was no longer the General-Secretary, he continued to be sought by his former colleagues for advice, and yet the Burmese pacifist still held some regrets with the main one being that of his greatest mistake which cost him the respect of many though not all, in particular his handling of the Congo Crisis following the suspicious death of his Swedish predecessor, Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld, as Thant put aside his pacifist beliefs and developed an aggressive posture to Katanga as well as South Kasai but in the aftermath, neither debacle nor fiasco could aptly describe it, one in which not only backed by Belgian mining interests but the Portuguese, Rhodesians, South Africa, and even American benefactors through the American Committee for Aid to Katangan Freedom Fighters.

Some commentators remarked that the entire peacekeeping concept was dead as it was not long before another Arab-Israeli conflict broke out after Egypt demanded that the United Nations Emergency Force - the very same U.N. approbated aggregation meant to prevent such a war following the Suez Crisis back in '56 - leave forthwith and the peacekeepers were powerless to refuse whereas others suggested the need for reforms including even the establishment of an official United Nations Army but the last thing the United Nations needed was to give the fringe theory, especially one circulated by the American radical right, any credence, one in which United Nations would conquer the world and bring about a draconian one-world government, the dreaded New World Order.

In the end, Thant resigned by his own accord due to the controversy with his continuing leadership tainting the very institution he cherished yet despite his departure, though not dead, the United Nations was effectively comatose and on life support. Now with Edwin Anderson Walker as President of the United States, the Texan was urging Congress to withdraw all funding and even discontinue American membership in the United Nations but there was little support presently and the midterms would either avert such a disaster or guarantee it and Thant was pessimistic as the current domestic atmosphere was leaning towards the latter as extraterrestrials or not it was apparent that the U.S. would discontinue any further participation in the U.N. sooner than later.

It was a mess to put it lightly and Thant still was shocked that live on-air People's Park was demolished with Governor Reagan ceremoniously turning the key of the bulldozer before officially announcing the complete disaccreditation of the institution and all scholarships having to be completely restituted by former students of the university. Even former faculty were hard-pressed to find employment from what Thant remembered about the whole occurrence.

But now, thanks to the geopolitical shifts and new opportunities presented, the war against the Sith Empire was inadvertently and unofficially becoming a test and competition of who will be known in another galaxy as the exemplar of hope when the Republic faltered and hence a continuation of the Cold War on Earth despite the common enemy and as a casualty the United Nations would either dissolve or at the very least fade into irreverence.

"If only I could turn back the clock and start over..." Thant lamented when he was interrupted.

"Sir?" An aide announced. "The General-Secretary will see you now."

"My apologies, Thant." His successor, Chakravarthi Vijayaraghava Narasimhan, asseverated. "Would you care for tea? There's a raspberry blend I can't help but recommend."

"Certainly."

Narasimhan turned to another aid and requested that refreshments were to be brought forthwith then turned to his predecessor. "Now, U, as much as I wish this to be a social visit, I understand that you made an impression with the Jedi Order?"

Thant smiled as he remembered his first exposure to the telekinetic abilities of the Jedi and the surreptitious trip to Tython arranged by General-Secretary Narasimhan and the Jedi Council and being a devout follower of Buddhism, Thant found the Force to be fascinatingly similar to his faith, nevermind the Shaolin Monks that accompanied him and Chairman Liu Shaoqi as their official bodyguards during the diplomatic visit, becoming a symbolic moment which demonstrated the possible closer friendship between Earth and the Jedi Order.

"The atmosphere on Tython was, how should I say this? Reposeful? Ah, yes, reposeful and it was quite soothing."

"The reason why I call is that I'm considering appointing a special representative of the United Nations to the Jedi Order."

Thant was understandably hesitant and skeptical of the venture. "Wouldn't this result in blowback?"

"I expect it somewhat but this organization needs vindication and I cannot think of anyone else qualified than yourself." Chakravarthi reasoned. "Besides, the Order was considering a joint venture between the AgriCorps and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the future."

Thant nodded, believing it to be an excellent proposition based on the similar objectives between the two organizations, particularly ending hunger but overall this appointment was an opportunity for redemption, not only for himself but rather for the United Nations as an institution. "I accept."

Narasimhan smiled as he was glad that Thant accepted. "I know you won't let us down."

---

Lucy Adelia (neè Schütte) Meyer

Meyer Farmhouse - Acton, Franklin Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 10:00 / 10:00 AM

"'You know, Lucy, I have to say I didn't expect you to offer to host the next meeting here."

"It's no trouble at all, Nancy." Lucy, with the warmth of the summer sun in her smile, chuckled. "I've got plenty of space, and things around here usually quiet down after harvest. Besides, you all know I love having company."

Rebecca, a life member of Minute Women of the U.S.A. and its affiliated sister organization for Catholic women, the American Public Relations Forum, as well as a close family friend, nodded in agreement. "It's always a pleasure to gather here"

"Say, Lucy? Have you heard anything from Paul or any of the boys?" Susan, a transplant from Sarisbury, Hampshire, inquired as she took a bite of her finger sandwich, her voice tinged with a hint of concern.

"Well, nothing of significance." Lucy replied, her eyes twinkling. "Though Jake did mention that he and some of his fellow Marines chucked some captured carbontight, carbonlite-whatever into the nearest lake after discovering that they were full of tea."

"Of course the Sons of Liberty did." Susan snorted, with a sharp wit. "I shouldn't even be surprised by the Imposters' fondness for tea to be quite honest. There are too many mind-boggling coincidences."

The other guests attending the quilting bee laughed as it was funnily enough the literal truth in regards to the fact of life over in the Condor Galaxy.

Ellie leaned back in her chair, her eyes sparking with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Thankfully, those tropo-hippies, those idealistic dreamers caught up in their own world, are no longer problematic." She began, her tone laced with sarcasm. "I mean, sure, we're still speaking English, thank goodness. But if those foolhardy peaceniks had their way back then, if John Lennon's grand vision from 'Imagine' was ever realized, we would all be scribbling away in Aurebesh script right about now." She then chuckled, a sound that was almost a snort, as if laughing off the sheer absurdity of the thought. "Can you imagine?" She asked, her gaze sweeping across the room, challenging anyone to disagree. "If they had gotten everything they wished for, if the world truly was one of peace, love, and universal language, do you really think we would have had the wherewithal to resist any threat from beyond our planet? No, I suspect we'd have been levigated flat the moment an invader saw our profligacy, our naivety, like a ripe fruit waiting to be plucked."Ellie's eyes gleamed with a mixture of challenge and mockery, daring anyone to defend their quixotical notions. "They meant well, I suppose but the lack of canniness and a bit of realism that can be our downfall."

"By the way, Ellie, speaking of 'troppo', thanks again for the… what's it called again?" Nancy asked, her voice laced with genuine appreciation.

"Pavlova." The redhead originally from Bega, New South Wales sighed, and she didn't even bother to clarify that troppo was actually slang for becoming mentally disturbed or insane, not for tropical fruit since Lennon and his like-minded ilk were nuttier than fruitcakes anyway.

"Well, it's delicious."

"What'd you think about the statement in the newsletter?" Rebecca asked, changing the subject.

"Which one?" Lucy replied.

"The one on subversive actions by a negligible number of Republic personnel so far, but to be on watch for any more activity, especially by these Zeltrons, whatever they are."

"Zeltrons? You mean that alien species which are solely seductive sybarites and beyond indecently immoral?" Nancy asked, her voice laced with disapproval. "Those who indulge in hedonistic excess have no place in our society."

"Are we going to war against them as well?" Susan wondered half-jokingly. "It would be less confusing obviously."

"No, no, but diplomatically speaking it's tense. Phyllis Schlafly and Anita Bryant are having a national petition drive to ban any traveling to their homeworld whatsoever in the future, not just the current prohibition for military personnel."

"I'll be sure to sign it." Lucy acknowledged without hesitation. Preventing depravity in the name of public decency was a good thing in her eyes, even if in reality, the 'ban' would be more of a symbolic gesture. Boys, unfortunately, were going to be boys, but conscientiously she felt it was warranted.

"By the way, while on topic... Lucy? Didn't your son unwittingly date an Imperial spy?' Nancy questioned, bringing up a sensitive topic.

Lucy sighed, not expecting it to be brought up this late, long after the exposé. "Yes, I did, but Sara was the last person I would have ever expected of being a spy, her curiosity aside."

"Curiosity?"

"You know, as in wondering why we're still relying on paper instead of these datapads, inquiring on how to appear presentable in a dress indistinguishable from any resident, questions that are more relevant to someone considering emigrating more than military matters. The girl came across as naturally intrigued by character and innately sweet."

"Oh. That's rather surprising as I thought it would be more toward finding out where the best invasion routes were to land." Nancy said.

"The funny thing is, and this has been bothering me ever since, is that I believe she sincerely was besotted with my son and was going to leave everything behind for him, even going so far to acculturate and overly so, perhaps literally going native." Lucy mused, her voice filled with sorrow. "But circumstances threw it off…"

The ladies' committee unspokenly decided to move on, as it was still a sensitive subject.

"Luce? I have to say that the lemonade is delicious. New recipe?"

"It's still the same word-for-word but the lemons were ripe."

---

Lana Beniko

"Safehouse" - Raider's Cove, Horizon Island, Rishi, Rishi System, Abrion Sector, Outer Rim Territories, "The Galaxy"

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 10:00 / 10:00 AM

Lana was attempting to keep her mind occupied with the task at hand, reviewing transactions the Nova Blades had on her datapad but out of curiosity glimpsed at the pan Sara sat down, befuddled by the contents or why she decided now was the time for dessert.

"What's this?"

"Cheesecake." The redhead replied candidly as she unwrapped the foil.

"And where in all places did you get this 'cheesecake', Kells?" Beniko pressed, unsure what to think of the desert with a yellowish tint which seemed to be more like a pie by appearance, not a cake.

"Oh, one of the booths happened to either import goods or steal the cargo shipments en route from Earth and were offering them for sale though it's a shame there weren't any Burger Chef products." The redhead revealed. "By the way, there's a fork for you."

Lana rolled her eyes and reached for the fork to try a bite only to savor the flavor. "You know, Kells, this is really good." She commented before having another bite. "There's nothing else quite like it."

"Not as delicious as Misses Meyer's but it's better than nothing." Sara simpered.

"Theron?" The blonde piped up. "Would you care for a slice?"

"Umm, no thanks, I'm good actually…" Shan sputtered nervously, scratching his head. "I already had lunch."

The towheaded Sith didn't believe the curse and sensing the fib only confirmed her suspicions."Alright. Do not complain if you find the tray empty then."

"Trust me, it's all yours." The SIS agent on the run due to being framed insisted.

"More like close-minded and picky with food." Jakarro countered, clutching a pan of his own in his arm.

"Not you too!" Theron groaned.

"Oh, give it a break, Theron, and ease up."

"I'm the one who needs to ease up, Lana?" The spy scoffed with his eyes trying to avoid the dessert that had the side-effect of cravings for it. "Ah, you know what, never mind, if you need me I'll be in my room."

---

Daniel Joseph Hendricks - Veteran of World War I

Indiana Veterans' Home - 3851 North River Road, West Lafayette, Wabash Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 10:00 / 10:00 AM

Daniel was in denial, not believing what he was hearing from the eccentric who became a boarder a year ago after attempting to pull the same stunt that he's considering doing again but at the same time, he shouldn't be surprised that the individual forcibly retired from the United States Army in the 1920s after fifty years of service, mostly with the 16th United States Infantry including being part of the guard detail which escorted the infamous Apache Geronimo to internment and charging up San Juan Hill, even seeing action on the Western Front with the American Expeditionary Force still desired one last go. After all, he attempted to get back in during the Second World War, Korea, and even had hope of being permitted to fight in Vietnam with his experience against Apaches, Moros, and Pancho Villa's bandits being arguably useful but to no avail.

"Douglas, I'm going to be blunt about this but you are too old for this."

"Nonsense, I never felt better but since I keep getting turned away, I say I shall hitch myself on a train like the hobos did frequently back during the Depression - say one heading to Newport offloading grain and - stowaway on a spaceship heading to the front, that way they can't send me back due to impacting logistics."

The man who fought at Chateau-Thierry and the Meuse-Argonne glared at his fellow Doughboy, still denying that he just wanted to get himself killed.

"You are going to regret it, Douglas, that's all I can say." Daniel grouched.

---

Lucy Adelia (neè Schütte) Meyer

Meyer Farmhouse - Acton, Franklin Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 12:00 / 12:00 PM

"Thanks again, Lucy."

"You're welcome here anytime, Nancy." Lucy mentioned to the departing guest before turning to Rebecca, Susan, and Ellie. "Susan? Remember how you asked if I received any letters from any of my sons?"

"Yes?"

"Your godson in particular really needs to write more." The mother grumbled, mentioning her firstborn Jake specifically. "Sometimes I wonder if he just wants me to be concerned."

"I can imagine that the current war may preclude writing at times in all fairness, notwithstanding the destruction of transports possibly carrying mail." The Hampshire transplant reasoned. "Lawrence of Arabia was occupied with derailing trains, what's not to say it's similar for Jake? It's not as if he's being held against his will for late payments like Capone would have done in Chicago back in the day."

"Or he is just being lazy for some reason, unlike his father." Lucy jested, pretending to ignore the ironic statement of late payments. "Maybe I should send in a priority one care package some Pfefferpotthast or Stippgrütze, pumpernickel, the kartöffelsalat, and even a slice of coffee cake as an incentive or perhaps whipped up a batch of his boyhood favorite ice cream: homemade strawberry." The homemaker also considered sending a Big Shef from Burger Chef instead but decided against it as home cooking seemed more befitting.

"Bribery with traditional family recipes?" Ellie chuckled. "That might work."

The ringing of the phone however interrupted any further scheming of bribery and the housewife immediately went to answer the call. "Hello?" The blonde then frowned as she realized that it was only due to being an emergency contact and Douglas had pulled yet another stunt. "Sorry, I'm not her but she's actually here with me. One moment." Lucy then warily glanced over her shoulder, dreading to be the bearer of bad news. "Becky? Don't shoot the messager but you need to hear this."

Rebecca grimaced as she knew it was something she dreaded and sure enough, she immediately began groaning after being informed that her father was currently being returned to the two hundred acre state veterans home that opened its doors back in 1896 after somehow getting to the train station and attempting to do freighthopping only to be caught by the Railroad Police in the act. "I see. I'll be there." She hung up and began massaging her temples out of frustration."Not again."

"Let me guess? Family?" The British-born war bride and a descendant of papist recusants surmised.

"Of course but why can't he just accept reality and stay put?"

"He's probably just being stubborn, Becky." Ellie speculated, the first generation Australian-American adding her own two cents. "Either that or he's troppo as it can come with age."

"Or even bored." Lucy deadpanned.

Rebecca, however, glared at her three friends as there was stubbornness and then there was eccentricity. "Not helping…"

---

Lance Corporal Nicole "Nikki" Cameron - 2642 Cryptologic Translator/Transcriber, Women's Marines, United States Marine Corps

National Mall, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 11:45 / 11:45 AM

"There certainly have been a few changes." Nicole sighed as she, Natalie, Ashley, and Amy walked around the square, the four sisters decided to use their ration books at the shopping center due to the uncertainty of wartime and then eat lunch at a local Burger Chef before visiting the Smithsonian. "It's too quiet with most of the men gone."

"Well, Nikki, at least the bright side is that we're not fighting World War Three." Natalie shrugged as if the threat of nuclear holocaust wasn't worrisome. "But I agree that it feels quiet without Dad and our brothers around."

"It's not the same without Tony here either." Amy lamented at her husband being far away.

"James as well." Ash agreed, her Women's Army Corps uniform being a sharp contrast to Nicole's and Natalie's WM uniforms. "The only young men left are just those assigned to the Military District of Washington. D.C. hasn't been this fortified since the American Civil War."

"Or those from the Republic." Natalie groaned. "They're surprisingly rude for aliens." The light blonde-haired Second Lieutenant then corrected herself as it wasn't equitable to label all the travelers as know-it-alls and not everyone from the Republic had been the same, if anything there had been cases where they had been the ones coming off as rude. "Well, the ones with the big mouths and bluster anyway."

"Yeah… Because they think they're enlightened or are superior while we're somehow ignorant savages." Amy 'analyzed ' while rolling her eyes at the egotistical arrogance. "Don't get me started on some of those ridiculous hairstyles and to think that I have a low opinion of the beehives."

"Not to mention that I thought Hippies were bad with hair but what's with the half-shaved heads and bewildering, knotty cinnamon rolls?" Ash wondered. "It's a little peculiar."

"I still remember one of them was hounding me relentlessly and trying to recruit me into the Republic Army for a few days." Nicole snorted, still denying the occurrence. "Commandant Puller himself led him away and had a chat."

"You saw Chesty Puller in person? The Chesty Puller?"

"For a few seconds before he chewed the pestering Zabrak out." The carrot top shrugged as if it wasn't something to brag about despite meeting an icon just as legendary and renowned as his second cousin George S. Patton. "To date, the Republic has been unsuccessful in recruiting on Earth, at least as far as I know. The only recourse I can think of, and obviously the recruiters are not that stupid, would be using press gangs."

The Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic and the Supreme Commander alike publicly denied any knowledge of the incidents which shouldn't have even occurred since neither the individual nation-states of the world nor the entire planet as a whole for that matter was a member of the Galactic Republic but in the end a few court martials were being convened on Coruscant over the affair.

"Heh, I see the Commandant occasionally at the office." Ash chuckled, attempting to change the subject away from the uncomfortably irreconcilable values dissonance between the Galactic Republic and parts of Earth, chiefly the Western World when it came to the accepted consensus perpetuated by even the Silent Majority despite in recent memory the upheaval inflicted nationally from the now petering counterculture with even the residual hippies openly day by day abjuring their incongruous crusade and capitulating to the mainstream.

"Of course, we all call you 'Miss Pentagon' for a reason, Ash." Natalie teased. "You literally work next to the Army Chief of Staff's office after all."

"When will you stop making fun of me working at the Pentagon or me literally being near General Westmoreland?" Ash wondered. "I've been posted there for over three years now and until I receive official transfer orders, four."

"As soon as you stop working there and transfer to a new post."

Ash moaned in agony. "It's not funny! I risked my career because of Jake when he asked for that small favor of his and before then I only accepted the spot because it was the one handed to me by the Army."

"Yeah, we know. That's exactly why we don't ask you for favors, Miss Pentagon."

Ashley gave her three sisters ice-cold daggers from her brown eyes. "Will you please stop?"

"Nope, and that's because we care about you, sis."

"Well, moving on, I never thought Walker was going to pull through." Natalie admitted. "Of course, while not perfect we all wanted him in the Oval Office over either one of those Liberals." The election of Edwin Anderson Walker of Texas and the rise of the American Independent Party was still horrifying to The Establishment and just the day following the inauguration, the Governor of New York, Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, announced his resignation from office and amusingly departed post haste to the Principality of Monaco but thus far he was the only American politician who took such action, more like an overreaction.

Still, to have Edwin Anderson Walker presiding from the Oval Office and be in charge of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, nevermind becoming Commander-in-Chief, marked a paradigm in American politics and while the effects were still too early to tell due to being his first term, the American electorate sent a loud and clear message that a necessary shakeup was in order.

"The New Deal was a sham and so is Kennedy's New Frontier. I'm just grateful that the majority of the American people finally woke up, a literal case of 'fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me'."

"By the way, remember the day when Reagan announced the closure of Berkeley as a public university?" Amy mentioned, her tone was trying to change the subject to something slightly more pleasant.

"Oh, that was a blast!" Natalie laughed as reminisced about the glorious day. "Rumor has it when Krasul watched the news last year showing the Governor turning the key, his fur sprang up in shock but regardless the Yates National Guard Armory is a fitting name for the repurposed complex."

"I would be more curious about how many Hippies decided to bathe and head to the nearest barbershop for a proper trim afterward." Nicole snickered, still amused by the short yet spectacularly entertaining event.

---

Ronald Wilson Reagan - 33rd Governor of California

University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley, Alameda County, California, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

Thursday, September 14th, 1967 - 4:05 PM

"Good evening, my fellow Americans." The former actor and present Governor of California, Ronald Wilson Reagan, greeted those who decided to tune in for the historic ceremony, one which addressed the entire nation on the fate of the now infamous public institution known as the University of California, Berkeley. "It is my honor to announce that the Campus of Berkeley will be shuttered and the defunct public university will be transferred to the California Army National Guard with the former dorms to be sold off as an apartment complex and the so-called People's Park will be demolished for the placement of Nike missiles."

"It is with remorse that by unforeseen and unforgivable circumstances I'll be participating in the decommissioning of a previously fine campus. What has transpired here within the past three years has been repugnant and unbecoming of youth who were on the path of having bright futures ahead of them. They've wasted fine opportunities for employment, and they've ruined chances of finding adventure in potentially aiding our newfound friends with research if they so choose, but instead of focusing on their studies, they saw their birthplace, the United States of America, as somehow complacent in the ills of the Earth. I say no more!"

With the cameras following his steps on cue, the current Governor of California shook the hand of the foreman standing beside a bulldozer that will demolish People's Park and the palm of the operator.

With the driver focusing on the clutch, Reagan then turned the key on the ignition and started the bulldozer, grinning as the destruction of the pathetic park littered with garbage around the trees and shrubs was imminent.

Still grinning satisfactorily, Ronald glanced back at the cameras as the demolition commenced, uprooting the littered jungle to make way for better usage as a site of anti-air missiles to fend off Soviet strategic bombers carrying nuclear weapons.

"As we've regrettably seen, these brats that were previously throwing bricks at Law Enforcement in the name of disorderly and violent protest here on this very ground had not only before us escalated into openly colluding with the Communists of Hanoi. As defined by the Constitution: 'Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort' , which these morons and bums ignorantly forgot to read before hosting enemy guerrillas on American soil." Reagan then cracked a smile though knowing that the parents of the former students would be enraged by the announcement. "By the way, folks, the scholarships for those formerly attending this campus will have to be restituted with no exemptions being granted. After all, no one, absolutely no one is above the law."

---

Present...

"If only Reagan ran for President…" Natalie sighed and she was blissful as Reagan and Barry Morris Goldwater alike were the future of the Republican Party.

"To be fair, it was the California State Legislature who voted to officially dissolve the university with Reagan signing the measure." Ash grinned proudly, not remorseful for the eminent domain in this specific circumstance. "Justice was served."

Nicole instinctively sighed in relief, feeling that despite the current conflict in outer space, the insanity was finally turning around. "Bye-bye, Hippies. The world is better off without your ne'er-do-well annoyances and therefore won't be mourned."

---

Walter Leland Cronkite, Junior - CBS News

CBS Broadcast Center - 524 West 57th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 18:30 / 6:30 PM

"Good evening, this is Walter Cronkite reporting." The news anchor introduced the nightly program he hosted as it aired across the nation. "To start off, it has been officially determined by the Food and Drug Administration that what the rest of the galaxy refers to as spice is as dangerous as marijuana and heroin, and therefore serves no medical purpose. The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs will be enforcing the Controlled Substance Act and those smuggling spice will be prosecuted per the internationally agreed Quarantine Policy."

"On the war front, while it still is locked in a vicious stalemate, the Republic has reported that the situation is stabilizing and the Empire is gradually being pushed onto the defensive."

Cronkite recently was getting curious about the exact situation on the ground which was why after some convincing, CBS will be sending the acclaimed newscaster to report in person once the planned trip to the galaxy and thus report on the conflict firsthand when it was approved by both the United States Department of Defense's and the Galactic Republic's bureaucracy.

"In related news, word has been received that Libyan forces under the command of vocal Anti-American advocate Colonel Muammar Gaddafi were slaughtered after information forwarded to him by our Defense Intelligence Agency was ignored even when it was verified by the Republic's Strategic Information Service and Soviet's Main Intelligence Directorate. Gaddafi himself was personally decapitated by the Sith leading the attack, one who was interviewed on this very program: Darth Avarice."

Cronkite was expressionless when he reported the Libyan's demise but mentally he was still stunned by the graphic details around it, at least the bits that weren't blotted out in the name of National Security. Gaddafi was the person who seemed likely to launch a coup d'etat if he was capable but evidently the assumption was wrong if he just dismissed warnings and through hubris got himself killed.

"Lastly, it should be mentioned that Tohil Rans, the former Republic Supreme Commander, will be making an appearance tonight on 'The Joe Pyne Show' and while our network, CBS, has invited Mister Rans for an interview, an invitation which is still open, he had instead decided to appear on Pyne's program. And that's the way it is."

---

Joe Pyne - Host of The Joe Pyne Show

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 18:30 / 6:30 PM

Before the scheduled interview commenced, appearing on the television screens for those tuning in was the quotidian introduction for the recurring nightly program which had not changed since the show's debut - except for now being in color instead of black and white - and as usual there was the short clip of a certain controversial talk show host leaning toward a microphone. "My name is Joe Pyne, and the action starts right here."

The cameras then zoomed out and the logo of the program which was simply JOE PYNE appeared for a moment before it went live and seated behind his desk as usual was the sandy-haired American television presenter himself. Originally from the city of Chester in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Pyne was a Marine Corps veteran who received a wartime injury to his left knee while fighting in the South Pacific and in 1955 he lost that same leg due to cancer which was replaced by a wooden leg but the radio host who moved on to presenting a television program was best known for his particular style of interviewing guests, most of whom were controversial. Among the individuals who appeared on set and in a few notorious instances Pyne shouted down or called names, even getting into altercations with, was Jerry Rubin, and Pyne preferred controversial guests such as the founder of the Church of Satan and the religion of Satanism, Anton LaVey. He additionally invited members of the Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam, the Ku Klux Klan, and the American Nazi Party to appear on his program.

Furthermore, Pyne spoke out against racial discrimination, spoke in favor of labor unions, and supported the Vietnam War yet conversely ridiculed hippies, homosexuals, and feminists. He even struck a friendship with Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga, best known as being the creator of the pan-African and African-American holiday of Kwanzaa, who became a frequent recurring guest on the show but on this particular occasion, Pyne was interviewing Tohil Rans, the former Supreme Commander of the Republic Military.

"Good evening. Joining me in the hot seat tonight is Tohil Rans, former Supreme Commander of the Republic Military."

"Glad to be on, Mister Pyne."

Pyne nodded as he tapped the excess of his cigarette into his ashtray. "Anyway, Mister Rans, since you have experienced the onslaught of the Sith Empire from the very beginning up until Illum, what can you tell those tuning in tonight about why our forces were stemming the tide when the Republic was barely holding on?"

Rans thought for a moment before answering the shock jock's inquiry. "Well, we have been fighting this conflict for almost thirty years at this point and I believe we're just worn out but when Earth officially entered the war, you brought not just a willingness to fight for your homes but also a willingness to innovate."

"How so?"

"Don't get me wrong here but despite trying to create superweapons to give us an advantage, I think the Republic failed to look for other chinks in the armor and exploit it. The galaxy, I hate to admit it, has gone stagnant and complacent so you're looking from the outside for flaws and implementing it into your overall strategy."

"So that does pose another question." The television host announced. "Based on your assessment, would you still consider Earth to be a backwater full of primitives or what?"

Rans sighed as he realized that he had fallen into a trap. On one hand, the military actions vindicated this world as a probable superpower in the making that even the Hutts would become fearful of but on the other hand, there were still nation-states, a reliance on fossil fuels, hardly any space travel, and similarly to a few worlds an expectation of upholding traditional social mores. "I'm probably in the middle opinion-wise as there's a case to be made for both perspectives. While I believe that if someone wants to fight they should be able to, these are your forces after all, and not the Republic's."

"I sense a 'but' here…"

"But, how can I best put this? There have been grumblings from organizations over some of your values yet it's your culture and no one should dictate what's right or wrong for you. As for the grouching from a few of my former colleagues, I believe that the ones who are unappreciative or unwilling to embrace your input on military matters are just obstinate because the galaxy is just familiar with a certain way of doing things for centuries and believe it's preposterous to accept advice from, in their minds, a backwater even if it's good-natured or strategically sound."

"When you put it that way, some of the things we hear about society from over there are, well, ludicrously radical in our eyes." Pyne revealed.

"Now coming from the other end it's none of our business to dictate how people should live over there in the other galaxy but hopefully it can be reciprocated unlike Ambassador, or was it Senator?, Krasul's aide who shall not be named stirring the pot here, Krasul's gaffes notwithstanding."

Rans felt that he got ensnared into another trap from the acclaimed reactionary columnist and was forced to evade the snare once more. "I, unfortunately, can't speak for the current administration, the current High Command, or the Jedi Order but I'm sure that the Republic, in general, will respect each respective nation-state's customs and mores."

"I and the viewers appreciate your time on the show, Mister Rans."

"Thanks for having me, Joe."

"You're welcome here anytime, my friend." The host smiled but of course, as the show concluded, Pyne by obligation had to use his signature signoff. "Good night everybody. Straight ahead!"

---

Roy Marcus Cohn - 65th Attorney-General of the United States

Office of the Attorney-General - Department of Justice Building, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 18:45 / 6:45 PM

"It seems our success rate for the apprehension of potential Imperial spies has been better than estimated." The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation himself, John Edgar Hoover, stated matter of factly to Roy as well as one of his former agents, Howard Smoot, who was presently the National Security Advisor of the United States, a position which did not require confirmation by the Senate and President Walker felt honored to have Dan in his administration while another position which also did not require Senate confirmation and who served at the pleasure of the President, specifically that of the White House Chief of Staff, was filled by American actor and singer Walter Andrew Brennan. In other words, the sweet and dearly beloved Television Grandpa 'Amos McCoy' of 'The Real McCoys' as well as 'Stumpy' of 'Rio Bravo' and other notable roles in film such as ironically portraying Pastor Rosier Pile in the biographical film 'Sergeant York' , a movie released back in 1941 that was about the conscientious objector turned war hero Alvin Cullum York and it was ironic for the reason that the actual pacifist pastor attempted to assist York in getting his status as a conscientious objector recognized whereas aside from his political views Brennan fought in the First World War and the then young artillerist was exposed to mustard gas, an attack which gave Brennan his now iconic reedy, high-pitched voice. Still, regardless the career actor was now overseeing the White House staff, not to mention giving his advice to the President in addition to Smoot and though the appointment of Brennan was admittedly baffling it was also one rather fitting for the Walker administration.

"Good to know, John." Cohn smiled.

"Still, I can't help but wonder if we found them all?" Smoot mentioned with some skepticism. "And I don't mean Imperial sleepers who've attempted to establish themselves but any remaining Communists." It was an issue that the publisher of The Dan Smoot Report had raised for years, that there was communist infiltration in various sectors of American government and society, and in 1962 Smoot went as far as to publish The Invisible Government in order to warn the American people of the threat without sparing any detail whatsoever.

"Even so, and while I don't think I need to ask this, Roy, Dan, but do either of you trust Saresh?"

The attorney who infamously helped convict the Rosenburgs and sent the husband-and-wife espionage team to the electric chair stared at John blankly, disbelieving that the Director of the Bureau would even ask such a question yet the famed counsel to none other than Joseph Raymond McCarthy himself back in the day responded. "As the old saying goes 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' . No, I don't trust that Chancellor in the slightest, and as a matter of fact, she reminds me of myself, but she's unwittingly being useful as she helped make this happen, she may be ruthless but is counterable."

"Which is why she also unnerves me and I wouldn't dismiss her from becoming suspicious quite yet." Hoover confided. "We have known each other for years, Roy, and while trust is an absolute luxury, it's no secret that there are Republic soldiers creating instances of subversion and undoubtedly the trail can be traced to the Chancellor as some of my agents learned before disposing of them and declared them as Imperial spies to Republic authorities."

'Smart. Learn about who ordered them to do subversion and use the system of dealing with Imperial Agents to avoid suspicion.' "If you need to ramp up COINTELPRO, feel free and I'll keep my eye out of it."

"I'll do the same and only inform the President at your request." Smoot added, concurring with the initiative.

"Glad we have an understanding unlike our mutual adversary Robert." Hoover growled as he thought about Cohn's predecessor in this very office: Robert Francis Kennedy.

"That little snot really should consider disappearing." Cohn snarled, the mere mention of Bobby ticked him off exactly just like how the mentioning of the same individual enraged Hoover while Smoot of course suspected that the Kennedy's were Communists.

"Well, I'm sure being unelectable due to his brother's dismal second term should take care of it." Smoot snickered. "The Kennedy's are a disgrace."

"Ain't that the truth, Dan." Cohn chortled. "What is there to worry about?"

---

Kennedy Compound - 50 Marchant Avenue, Village of Hyannis Port, Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 18:45 / 6:45 PM

"Jack? You're in there?"

"Go away."

"Jack, it's Bobby and Ted." Robert announced outside the bedroom door. "Jackie wanted us to check on you."

"I said go away!" The two brothers heard glass shatter which caused them to open the door and burst in, only to notice that it was an empty beer bottle that was thrown at the door and there were at least fourteen empty bottles of liquor from Brandy and Cognac to Schnapps and Champagne scattered across the floor near their depressed sibling lying on the floor absolutely shitfaced.

"Jesus Christ!" Edward cursed. "Get some coffee Bobby while I put him in the shower."

Robert left while shaking his head out of belief and Edward began manhandling the former President to the shower, turning on the faucet to 'cold' before holding him inside to be blasted with the ice-cold water.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Jack!? You were President of the United States and now you're drinking yourself worse than our friend Joe McCarthy ever did until his cirrhosis of the liver!"

"Those damn rotten, ungrateful brats whom I believed were the nation's future, that fucking Raul Castro and those Viet Cong guerrillas who mowed down everyday Americans going about their daily lives at Idlewild! The Weathermen ambushing National Guardsmen and Law Enforcement…" The former President of the United States muttered slurrily as he felt the cold water being blasted on him. "I shouldn't have deluded myself with preaching 'ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country' to the youth, as a matter of fact, Ted, the more I think about it, the more I realize that perhaps I should've died in Florida that day, Pavlick should have blown me to bits as it was my fate - my literal destiny - maybe having my body splattered around would have prevented the Hippies from coming into existence at all."

The mention of Richard Paul Pavlick's suicidal bombing attempt riled his brothers as it wouldn't have been just the then President-elect who would have been killed on Sunday, December 11th, 1960 by the elderly and mentally ill retired postal worker from New Hampshire but Jaqueline and the children as well. "Don't talk like that, you hear. Don't you dare ever mention that day again!"

"Ted, winning Vietnam might've made things worse because no matter what, nothing would appease them unless they had their way."

"But the Hippies are no more, Jack, they self-destructed themselves by trashing streets and caused every American to turn against them." Edward reminded him as soon as there would be none in sight. "They're no longer problematic, even Jerry Rubin's Yippies and Valerie Solanas's group of absolute nutcases are no longer of any concern, Jack, with Phyllis Schlafly nationally commended for her excoriating, a majority of what the Hippies advocated for became discredited overnight and they petered out, or they certainly have by now, don't you remember?"

"True but it would have been nice if none of it happened, if flower children never came to be at all. And while America would've been screwed to shit if any of them got their way, I'm still getting blamed for sparking the turmoil." John grumbled, incensed by how a scant minority decided to cause chaos nationally while wearing beads and sandals. "God, I'm the catalyst for it, maybe Nixon should have been elected in 1960."

"Don't beat yourself too much on the what-ifs. Just remember the accomplishments and move on.."

"Yes but now that fucking Stetson-wearing Bircher nutcase from Texas, the very inspiration for General James Mattoon Scott, Edwin Anderson Walker, is in the White House with Dan Smoot, Roy Cohn, and even Walter fucking Brennan for Christ's sake! Walter Brennan! WALTER BRENNAN!" John execrated as he was still in denial yet the fact remained the same: Walker was still the Commander-in-Chief until either the end of his term, death, resignation, or impeachment and the former President had to live with it.

---

Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Senior - Patriarch of the Kennedy family

Kennedy Compound - 50 Marchant Avenue, Village of Hyannis Port, Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 18:45 / 6:45 PM

"I want a divorce."

"What!?" The patriarch, described as being to the right of Herbert Hoover politically by his son, John, despite being a registered Democrat, was admonished.

With the effects of the stroke he suffered back in 1961 gradually withering away courtesy of treatment received at one of just a handful of Republic medical centers set up on Earth due to security reasons with the stringent Quarantine Policy in mind - with two of them being located on Fishers Island, New York and Angel Island, California for the United States specifically and all selected locations being easily supervised such as the Orkney Islands - Joseph was not only able to respond to his daughter-in-law's stunning declaration but as simple as setting the newspaper down in order to do so. "Jackie, even if that was simple and wouldn't cause another scandal, that honestly would be the worst thing you can do right now to your husband and children."

"I'm just at the breaking point Joe. Jack's eight years at the White House were bringing in sluts and whores to bed and now he's becoming a drunkard because of these past years! Two years of drugged bums banging on bongos irritably and chanting incessantly, two years of rioting and instances of bombings, then there's the fact we're currently at war with aliens, aliens, aliens for crying out loud! I mean this is not what I asked for when I married your son and I thought he loved me… I thought he loved me!"

Joseph allowed the woman on the verge of tears to collect herself after the outburst before responding. "Then be there for him, Jacqueline, then show him that he needs to get his ass in order or I'll bust him myself."

"You really think there's even a chance he'll turn around?"

"These past two years were hell for everyone you know. Goddamn hippies aside, remember how there was a bombing attempt on Rose and I courtesy of Hanoi? Reagan wasn't the only one."

"Yes, I remember. And there was a Weatherman sniper in a tree just outside here as well."

"My butler had to grab my Elephant Rifle in self-defense because of that malcontent." The patriarch scoffed, the backer of Joseph Raymond McCarthy's crusade still denying the two separate incidents with the first being a bomb followed by four gunmen led by an American Marxist named Angela Yvonne Davis jumping out of a van in case the Patriarch survived and then there was the sniping attempt three months later with both plots orchestrated by the Weather Underground Organization, the same domestic terror group who also brazenly attempted to off Director J. Edgar Hoover only to fail and yet this was the same organization which successfully used truck bombs to damage the Pentagon, the Selective Service Building, the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and even for some unknown reason the Federal Courthouse in Oklahoma City. It was little wonder the so-called 'Hard Hat Riots' transpired as vigilantism inspired by the Sons of Liberty seemed the only way to put an end to the madness and stop the Communist Fifth Column from destroying the nation from within. After what transpired the Patriarch actually couldn't blame the Patriots who literally tar-and-feathered Jerry Clyde Rubin and Walter Philip Reuther to death in the slightest as if they were modern-day Tories. "Those fucking Communists were more stubborn than anyone believed but that's not the point. The point is there's always a bright light at the end of the tunnel, give him one last shot and I'll pay for his therapy or I'll pay for your divorce, no questions asked."

"Another chance? After this family has been disgraced!?"

The patriarch did not even try to stop her as she was right, despite his son's accomplishments the legacy of the Kennedys became synonymous with domestic turmoil and all they could do now was to survive. The First Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the First Chair of the U.S. Maritime Commission, and the Forty-Fourth United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom turned to a portrait of his late eldest son, Joseph Junior, the one he was going to persuade to run for the Presidency only to be killed in an accident while serving in the United States Navy in the European Theater during the Second World War as his B-24 Liberator exploded in the air while on a training mission but Joseph wondered if the nation would have been better off if it was Junior that became President instead of his second son John.

' If only it was Junior.'

---

Sergeant Samuel David "Sam" Westbrook - First Squad, Third Platoon, D/Delta Company, Second Battalion, 324th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army

Fort Duqua Dar - Quadrant G-19, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Wars, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 18:45 / 6:45 PM

"I'll be darn, there are ' High Galactic ' editions of books about Revan." Sam declared as he sat the plastic shopping bag down. "Jake? You there? Earth to Jake?"

"Huh?" The Marine gazed up from his book and noticed the store-bought goods. "Oh, sorry, you needed something, Sam?"

"You are fixated on that book, aren't you?"

"They still are more awesome than puny Templars." Jake grinned.

"Alright, alright, the Teutonic Order would've mauled and completely annihilated the Knights Templars on the battlefield, I get it as they clearly were the superior militaristic order during the Crusades. Now, please be so kind and bookmark that page you're on and start reading these biographies about Revan."

"Killjoy." Jake muttered as he dogeared his current page about the exploits of Martin von Golin, an individual who made Simo Hähya, Mad Jack Churchill, Peter Ortiz, and Larry Thorne combined all appear to be only mere amateurs, thereby making the Pagan Hunter one of the most feared men in history. After closing his book, Meyer reluctantly hopped off of his rack and retrieved one of the six biographies on Revan.

"This is rather disconsonant." Sam brought up as he read the background. "The Republic apprised us that they haven't fought the Sith in over one thousand years."

"The ' True ' Sith that is." Jake corrected. "Revan's Empire was supposed to be an imitation of sorts while the actual Sith were primarily the Purebloods, the red-skinned alien race the Republic haven't seen since the Great Hyperspace War and believed to be extinct until up around when the Great Galactic War broke out, did you even pay attention to the history exhibits at the museum back when we visited or were you principally admiring the extensive art gallery instead?" That and the fact his highbrow friend missed out on meeting some honest-to-goodness fire-breathing dragons due to having other plans though being surrounded by carnivores in an entire restaurant may not have been exactly comfortable for him.

"As a man of culture, dear boy, art is an escapade for the mind." The scion of northeastern old money and descendant of a man that arrived at Plymouth Rock aboard the Mayflower simpered before reading on. "There's also this Star Forge which spawns thousands of warships, battle droids, and... Wait, were the remnants the very articles being surgically implanted into those ' volunteers ' for the so-called ' Infinite Army '?"

"A little crazy and mind-boggling but they're cultists to be fair. Still, that's like putting pieces from a tractor, combine, and pick-up inside you. No sane person would put machinery inside their bodies."

"The rest of the universe at times doesn't have any rationality." Westbrook groaned as he continued reading and his eyes widened in surprise. "Heh, the Republic Military were in the past methodically competent on the battlefield even if they still stood out wearing rainbowish uniforms of yellow, red, and black, nevermind utilized walkers."

"Didn't you buy a book about warfare by chance?"

"You know I did."

"Not only we'll learn about Revan, but we'll also see why warfare regressed among our allies." Jake smiled. "I'm getting sick and tired of having conflicting orders being issued as the chain of command concept somehow got broken down."

"Their entire military could use an overhaul in addition to reforms."

"Evidently." Jake concurred while thinking that it may be worthwhile to visit the Galactic Museum again and perhaps this time with the assistance of the translator on the showcase they should converse with T3-M4 for information but talking to robots in general was still something the Hoosier was getting used to and it was still mind-boggling how widespread robots were. Even so, the Leatherneck would need to request a pass like anyone else as special treatment was an anathema to him and his relatives and speaking of which. "By the way, I gave the rundown to Uncle Jack and Steve."

Sam knew that it was about the occurrences courtesy of the cult, causing the paratrooper to press for additional information about the exact rundown. "And…?"

"They're understandably skeptical. Jack suspects that we stumbled upon an elaborate Sith research operation on Manaan as well as Rakata Prime and we were targeted by Imperial sleeper agents in a desperate attempt to silence us while Uncle Steve thought we ran into some new group of space mobsters. They were debating it after I left."

"That sounds like them alright." Samuel groaned. "And of course, your old man is leaning towards the rotten, corrupt spy tale as handed down to him. This is going to be much harder than I thought."

"Maybe, maybe not but with the downtime due to Ike planning a strategy, things might get interesting." Jake shrugged before changing the subject. "Say, how's your sister doing?"

Samuel bookmarked the page, closed the book, and massaged his temples as he thought of his only sibling, the one who was still a vocal campaigner in the American Jewish Congress. "If you must know, Elise did not drive her motorcycle through the center of town again while being chased by irate rednecks."

Jake rolled his eyes as it was not exactly the answer but the fact that back in the Summer of '65 she impulsively drove her personal 1952 Vincent Black Lightning through the center of the city of McComb, Mississippi while being pursued was still farcical despite the seriousness as that community in Pike County was arguably a runner up for the most violent place for integrationists after 'Bombingham'. Still, it was an answer at least and the Hoosier couldn't help but guffaw as he looked back on the incident which was broadcast live by a news crew and even made international headlines albeit without disclosing Elise's identity of course as well as resulting in Ross Robert Barnett, Rubel Lex Phillips, John Cornelius Steniss, James Oliver Eastland, and the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission to decry the apparent arrival of 'Yankee Juvenile Delinquents', in addition to other affronted individuals such as the feminist Iris Faircloth Blitch as well as John Little McClellan, Lester Garfield Maddox, Senior, Strom Thurmond, George Corley Wallace, Junior, the Citizens' Council of America, and multiple Klu Klux Klan organizations including the one headed by Robert Marvin Shelton, United Klans of America Inc. but overall the spontaneous circus ruffled feathers, especially within The Magnolia State. "At least she's staying out of trouble and not doing any more theatrics as I heard that Emma's relatives in Natchez are still flustered by the whole occurrence!"

But Samuel was not done as he decided to disclose what his sibling was up to. "Actually she's on Jacob Javits's staff, at least that what's she wrote."

With the admission that Elise was working for the Ultraliberal Republican Jacob Koppel Javits, Jake was no longer laughing and immediately became silent, at a loss for words.

---

Corporal Hanzo Nilsson- Weapons Section, Second Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia Light Infantry, 1st Commonwealth Division

Kuat City, Medical Station - Kuat, Kuat Sector, Kuat System, Core Worlds, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 18:45 / 6:45 PM

'As much as I hate to admit it, the nurse is probably right.' Hanzo figured after reflecting on the brawl against the Sith and the resulting injuries which caused him to be hospitalized. The Canadian not only suffered broken ribs courtesy of the fiend but also received permanent scorching from the Sith's vibrant blade yet it could have been worse as Hanzo was fortunate to have survived the encounter with the Sith brute on the shipyard above Kuat but it was not the first encounter as he faced another on Tython which resulted in him having a scar over his left eye, and both of these instances had given him much to think about facing Sith in combat as he had no doubt it would not be the last.

' I wonder how far along the rebuilding of Tython is? How it's progressing?'' Hanzo swore that he could still hear the deafening ringing from the Empire's bombardment on the surface, how massive some of the explosions were, completely leveling landscapes around Tython. He remembered learning that the Empire had used a very rare mineral energy source called Isotope-5 in their bombing which explained the results he had witnessed, it had felt and sounded like the world was gonna end as they did their best to stay in cover while other positions had not been as lucky to have escaped the bombing.

Even as the Imperials were assaulting through their defenses and destroying the Republic's artillery targeting arrays, the Tommies from across the British Commonwealth, Republic troopers, and Jedi continued to fight with everything they had. Hanzo was proud to have fought alongside the brave men and women he had met on Tython but he had seen just as many of those brave soldiers killed during the ensuing battle.

Such as the time when his company had been delegated to defend Kalikori Village from encroaching Imperial infantry after they had taken out the artillery arrays. The Twi'leks had begun to evacuate, they had been lucky that the previous bombardment hadn't hit their village but it had been damn close to when they saw for themselves the craters and damages left behind in the surrounding area. Many of the adults had decided to form an ad hoc militia and take up arms to defend their homes alongside the Canadians.

Just as they did against the horrid Flesh Raiders that had been the Commonwealth's main focus of an enemy throughout their stay on the Tython before the Sith Empire had shown up.

The Flesh Raiders had taken the opportunity to exact vengeance on their division by attacking the remaining outposts that had been erected by Republic forces and the Jedi to keep the Flesh Raiders at bay only to overrun some of them while others desperately held the defense despite being severely outnumbered by the ferocious monsters, those that did breakthrough had reached almost as far as the Jedi Temple, but the Imperials had ironically taken care of the threat for them when their forces crossed into each other's paths, intercepting the battle for Kalikori Village when the Imperials attention was drawn to the Flesh Raider hordes, it had given them just enough to recover for when the Empire's attention returned to them.

' Bought us some time but still… Too many died in that retreat.' Hanzo thought grimly.

Alpha Company and the accompanying Republic Troopers and Jedi as well as Twi'lek volunteers had held out as long as they could in their makeshift defensive positions, making the Empire pay for every step they took to reach them but the Imps had eventually overrun their positions through a vicious determination of their own and inflicting casualties as they got closer. They had been forced to withdraw once Imperial Walkers had started tearing through their defenses, at this critical moment they didn't have the means to properly deal with them as a majority of the tanks were spread thin attempting to plug gaps across the line, the surviving Commonwealth artillery batteries were low on shells after the gunners were forced to take over providing fire-support for the main body of Republic forces who were facing their predicament and couldn't redeploy the guns in time especially the much-needed 'Black Dragons' - the 240 mm M1 Howitzers manufactured and supplied by Uncle Sam, the few aircraft were occupied with aerial threats, even munitions for the Recoilless Rifles were expended long before the final drive, the final relentless push by the enemy, if only they stockpiled more shells beforehand…

Being under heavy fire, Alpha Company and their allies had begun a fighting retreat, each taking their turn to give others the chance to pull back, and it had been just in time too for those that had made it out when they escaped.

Kalikori village was hit by the restarting orbital bombardment, destroying it almost completely and much of the rest of the once beautiful land. He could still remember just how heartbroken the Twi'lek survivors were as they watched their home burning and everything they had built for themselves being destroyed. But their spirit remained strong, they had been left inspired by the Canadians and their Republic allies who gave their lives to ensure that many of them escaped, and from what Hanzo was hearing, the retellings of their sacrifices were spreading across the galaxy.

He only hoped that the Twi'lek Pilgrims were faring well but he had every bit of confidence that their new Matriarch, Ranna Tao'Ven, whom he recalled fondly as she displayed her bravery and dedication to her people that day, would lead them well through their recovery like the rest of Tython. He idly wondered where she was now, remembering his last meeting with her that had left an impression behind after she had pulled him in a private quarters area where she could express herself fully.

There was not much else for him to do besides watching the news on the holonet - something he had already done -, read, or gaze out the window to observe the activity in Kuat City. Hanzo truly felt out of his depth upon seeing the true magnitude of the city and the skies covered with hover cars or ships flying by, the sounds of the city ringing in his head, and it made him recall how he felt while traveling through some of the bigger cities in America after Vietnam, touring the sites on the way home.

' Or when I could, always was somebody looking for an opportunity to fight or stir up some shit.'

Still, he needed a way to tune out the busy noises from outside and Hanzo decided to continue reading a certain 'E-Book' on his datapad, specifically a biography about Revan he had found before the Second Battle of Kuat. He grabbed the finicky device from the stand beside his bed, pressed the 'on' button to activate it, and waited until the screen came up, typed in his password, and finally, he began from where he had left off.

Hanzo didn't need to worry about reading Aurebesh anymore… Not as much anyway and although he still preferred to get his hands on the copies in English he had been hearing about, he felt that there was still plenty of enough time to learn and was grateful for the lessons from some of the Jedi he had befriended.

Such as a stoic and quiet Kaleesh Jedi Master named Cin Tykan, gaining his respect after the two had a spar. Hanzo didn't win the match but he still managed to surprise Cin a few times during their practice in hand-to-hand combatives. The two would later exchange some knowledge of survival skills and tactics before the conversation shifted to a discussion of their personal experiences in surviving and adapting in the forest with Cin's being tropical jungle and Hanzo's respectively being in the forests of a marine west coast climate, an environment indistinguishable from what Americans knew as the 'Pacific Northwest'. Cin Tykan was considered to be the Jedi Order's best survivalist expert and the type of environments he would tell him had left Hanzo in astonishment of the kind of worlds there were in this galaxy and what lay within their harsh environments, there had been plenty the Jedi warned Hanzo about should he ever found himself on any of the worlds Cin had visited. In the end, the two had found an understanding. They shared a hike together to a forest spot on Tython, he showed Hanzo a area that showed Tython's natural beauty and even now his heart ached to return to the world much as he wanted to return home.

There was also a female Rodian Jedi student named Krista who had taken up always following Hanzo around when he was at the Temple or when she kept trying to visit the barracks in her mass curiosity with the Earthlings and Hanzo had to admit after his time with Krista it made him feel like he had an energetic little sister and he could only imagine what it felt like for those who have such siblings. Remembering how he had shown her how to use his pistol and giving her tips in marksmanship, intrigued by how Force could aid it as he noted how fast she became adaptable to it, smirking at some of his squadmates who were teasing her before after she got a bullseye.

Serena the Twi'lek Jedi Knight was one that he had fought alongside during the battle and had also befriended him though others including Alex kept insisting it was more than just friendship between them to his small irritation, especially after the battle where she took him into the Temple to meditate. Even so, Hanzo could not deny that Serena was quite attractive, downright beautiful as he thought of her shining purple eyes and her smile, and he had developed a strong respect for her. The Canadian had found peace in talking with her while Serena showed him that she understood all too well about the hardships soldiers like him go through in war and she shared some details regarding her experience during the Sacking of Coruscant. But Serena was still just a friend, and besides Hanzo was with Marala and Lizzy now, he was happy with her and hopefully the two felt much the same.

There had been other Jedi he had met and befriended or at least became acquainted with but they were the three who stood out the most and through his time with them he was now able to read Aurebesh and could somewhat write it albeit not perfectly. Still, Hanzo's innate interest in learning languages had arguably helped him, an activity he enjoyed alongside history, philosophy, geography, and of course culture.

Speaking of language and culture, thus far he was able to speak Ryl or Huttese fairly well since there were plenty of fluent speakers of the languages on Tython who were alright with teaching him. He could understand Binary somewhat as he perceived the necessity of it but he didn't consider himself an expert or fluent. Then there was a hint of Mando'a from what he could find on the Holonet and some words that Marala had told him but he was still learning and there was only so much that was available on the net, she had also taught him a little of Catharese. He had learned some Rodese from Krista, and Cin Tykan had taught him a bit of the Kaleesh's language but it was quite difficult as he found out how rare it was for outsiders to know the language.

From his current reading, the more Hanzo read about the Prodigal Knight, the more that Hanzo grew intrigued by him and even developed a respect for the complex Jedi known to Galactic History as the Prodigal Knight.

It was clear to the Canadian that like himself Revan was an orphan though unlike Hanzo who knew his parents before their untimely deaths Revan was found as a child in the Outer Rim and there were hardly any records of where he had come from but it was estimated that he was born sometime around 341 BTC or three hundred forty-one years before the Treaty of Coruscant, he was eventually inducted into the Jedi Order, leaving a mystery behind his true origins. As Revan gradually matured in age, he grew interested in learning everything that he could, whether it was history, knowledge, Force forms, or lightsaber combat, it did not matter the subject as Revan had a thirst for knowledge and Hanzo was surprised to learn that Revan had several teachers that had made him wonder just how much of a prodigy he must have had been in his youth, given there were records detailing that he had even been studying rather uncommon Force powers during his time even as a Padawan.

He was advancing at an alarming rate, along with a great eagerness to learn if the old records were anything to go by.

And his masters were quite notable, judging from what he had read of them or what he could find on them as some of the records were apparently still missing, due to the Jedi Purge following the Jedi Civil War.

There was the Twi'lek Jedi Master Zhar Lestin, who was responsible for training some of the Order's greatest duelists of their time including Revan and Malak, even serving as a Council member on the Dantooine Enclave during the Mandalorian Wars and the Jedi Civil War.

Dorak, who served as one of the Order's historians or as Hanzo had learned back during his time wandering through the Jedi Temple on Tython, Jedi Chroniclers, who were dedicated to researching and preserving history, a goal that Hanzo respected and from what he had found on Master Dorak, it showed that he was among the most wise of the Jedi Order during his time considering who his students were with Revan just being only one of them.

Vandar Tokare, a Jedi Master who was one of those little goblin-like or gremlin-like aliens that he did not know what to call, and while Hanzo had not had the pleasure of meeting even one of these 'gremlins' personally, from what he had heard from those who had, their peculiar form of articulation sounded as if he was talking to a certain individual from back home, an elderly immigrant from China named Chong Cong. He ran a fishing shop in his hometown back on Vancouver Island but between Chong's thick accent and how he often added Mandarin into his broken English it made Chong hard to understand. Sometimes Hanzo had a feeling that Chong liked to confuse people with his riddles since it allowed him to scam some of his customers, at least the ones who were rude to him. But from what he had read on Vandar, the 'goblin' played quite the key role in the Jedi Civil War and his teachings were still being taught.

The Jedi Master Vrook Lamar, who had a brusque manner, a stern demeanor, and was known to be a hardliner but Hanzo could understand why due to Vrook's experiences yet it didn't stop Hanzo from disagreeing with Vrook's opinion on the Revanchist's decision to enter the Mandalorian Wars.

Another, Arren Kae, certainly made his head turn. She had an affair with the famed Echani General Yusanis but after gazing at some images showing her beautiful appearance he could see why Yusanis fell for her and they even had a daughter together who went on to become a Jedi herself, one of the founders to the new Jedi Order after the Dark Wars. Still, Arren Kae was an outstanding Jedi Master despite being apparently among those blamed for the fall of Revan and Malak.

But there was someone in particular who had caught Hanzo's attention. For some reason, he could almost find nothing else about her besides some notable actions and a handful of details, her apparent role in Revan's fall in the Mandalorian Wars as recorded by the High Jedi Council, her exile from the Jedi Order, her views on the Force challenging the views of the Jedi Order and even the Sith, and even her role in a scheme that had almost exterminated the entire Jedi Order but there was nothing else, nothing about her past or where she had come from, almost as if someone had intended on wiping her from history but he did know her name.

' Kreia...' Or at least that was what she had called herself, she had also been known as Darth Traya.

Whoever she had been... She was dangerous.

' Who are you, Kriea?'

Still, going back to Revan, Hanzo couldn't help but grow intrigued with the more he assessed Revan as an individual of significance. The more he learned about him, the more questions he had, whether it was his origins, whoever his Master Kreia had been, his friendship with Alek who would become the feared and utter brutal Darth Malak, and the Jedi General known as Meetra Surik, also famously known as the Jedi Exile.

And just like with Revan, he found the exploits of Meetra Surik to be rather immersing given her role during the Mandalorian Wars and her astonishing ability to inspire her men to fight even at the impossible odds, but even with the great sacrifices it had gained the Republic great victories.

There was just so much he had stumbled across while attempting to find answers on how exactly this whole war with the Sith began but instead of something straightforward, he found himself searching through record upon record including the adventures of the Jedi Padawan fugitive Zayne Carrick which honestly sounded like it could fill a whole series of novels.

"And yet still so little remains." He quietly muttered to himself.

It would seem there was still much that had been unfortunately forgotten in the chaos of war yet despite the destruction of libraries, museums, and archives there was still enough to satisfy Hanzo's curiosity and despite the other historical figures he kept being drawn to Revan and conversely the Mandalorians but in the case of Revan he recognized that the Jedi's attribute as an exemplary strategist, one which was arguably on a level that rivaled some of the greatest from Earth's own history.

Despite the odds, Revan was given command of the scant, battered, and demoralized forces of the Republic, whipped them into shape, and launched an aggressive counter-offensive against the Mandalorian Neo-Crusader onslaught, turning the tide of the war back to the Republic's favor and drove the Mandalorians out from their conquered systems but Revan's campaign was not without controversy as in what sounded in contravention to the ideals of the Jedi Order his forces matched the viciousness of the Neo-Crusaders and the decisions made by the Revanchists - or as Hanzo preferred to call them the 'Jedi Crusaders'.

As Hanzo dug further, he could not overlook the glaring fact that there had been several instances of war crimes being committed and it wasn't just the Mandalorians who were killing unarmed prisoners and inflicting torture but Republic soldiers were also committing these acts as they had grown to truly hate the Mandalorians for everything they had done to them and the galaxy.

Then there was the Battle of Dxun, second only to Malachor V in being the most infamous engagement of the entire Mandalorian Wars and it was truly astonishing that the Republic was even able to pull off a victory. Those who survived the Mandalorians' fierce ferocity and brutality on Dxun, the hidden minefields, booby-traps that sounded all too familiar to the Canadian veteran, the anti-air turrets that shot down the Republic's transports, and many of those who had survived were half wiped out by the ferocious beasts that roamed the infamous 'Demon Moon' .

As Republic losses on Dxun continued to mount, Revan implemented a complex plan that involved sending hundreds of small units to probe the Mandalorian emplacements while concurrently battle droids were deployed in an attempt to neutralize the gun emplacements, an operation Revan entrusted to Meetra Surik but it went to hell as in time both sides gave in to their primitive viciousness.

The battle had ultimately been a Republic victory but it was one with a great cost, and at some point, Mandalore the Ultimate had ordered his forces to abandon the fortress yet the walls continued to be manned by a few volunteers who fought to the very end until at last, the Republic had overrun the headquarters with everything they had left. Ruthlessly the Republic soldiers under Revan and Malak's command took no prisoners but in ways Hanzo frankly didn't blame them, it was an all too familiar story that many soldiers bear knowing or having done it themselves in the middle of war.

In the Mandalorian's case, they at least didn't try perfidy, to literally pretend to surrender only to kill Republic soldiers afterward but those who did raise their hands in surrender and expected to get a reprieve didn't. Still, the Mandalorians who survived took their executions with what pride and honor they had left, as they were either in line to be shot by firing squads or they were beheaded by Revan and Alek personally, something which was not disclosed to the public until after the war and which generated outrage within the Galactic Senate as well as the Jedi Order.

But still, with the victory on Dxun and later the retaking of Onderon with the aid of the Onderon resistance fighters and Iziz Royal Guardsmen led by General Vaklu, it had sent forward the next phase of the war.

There had been plenty of hard decisions, even some immoral decisions, made as time went on and it became more desperate. There were decisions Hanzo didn't agree with on the moral level but he could still understand why others were made in the first place as the death count for the Republic was in the millions in this campaign alone with billions of lives lost through the war, a death toll that left Hanzo in a silent deep horror as he took in how greater the loses these Galactic Wars could have. The Republic had needed every victory to survive and to keep their morale up but they had done so with sacrifices, such as abandoning worlds to their doom fates if it meant deploying their defenders to important battlefronts and though he did not like it, desperate times may call for desperate measures.

But then, the war concluded with the cataclysmic Battle of Malachor V, also known as Ani'la Akaan - the 'Great Last Battle' in Mando'a.

There were still details that had been left blank due to what Hanzo could only imagine had been the confidentiality around the secret weapon they had intended to use but Revan had chosen to split his forces into two fleets with one given to General Surik to lure and delay the Mandalorian fleet while Revan's fleet would ambush them from outside the system. Revan knew the Mandalorians couldn't resist the challenge and even when Malachor V was apparently forbidden to them, something that piqued the curiosity of Hanzo. Still the Mandalorians came and unfortunately for the Republic, things didn't go as planned.

A Mandalorian scouting fleet under the command of Cassus Fett had ambushed Revan's fleet outside the system and kept them delayed while Meetra's fleet was being torn apart by the main Mandalorian force, their fleet had already been battered and it comprised only of what they could scrounge up, weakened from other battles. By the time Revan's fleet had arrived, there had been barely enough vessels left, thus came the decision to use a superweapon to end the conflict at last, it had reminded Hanzo of America's decision to use the Atomic Bombs to end the war with Japan and during the same war, most of his extended Japanese family from his mother's side were killed during one of the American firebombing campaigns as far as he knew when they were dropped in Nagasaki.

But only in this case, the Mass Shadow Generator had killed countless thousands of Republic troops on the surface in addition to the Mandalorians while the surviving vessels caught in its gravity field were also destroyed.

It was undeniable that the Mass Shadow Generator ended the war, along with Revan's duel against Mandalore the Ultimate. It was a ruthless display and Revan received much criticism for the fratricide on Malachor IV as Republic forces were in the line of fire, but still, Revan had needed to send an emphatic message to the remaining warriors that their crusading days were over in a manner Hanzo couldn't disagree as the Mandalorians had it coming for them with the number of atrocities they had committed. But still, genocide was genocide and he still heavily questioned much of the implications of Revan's decisions for that battle, of a man who was willing to do anything to achieve victory yet Hanzo acknowledged the grim truth all the same, that there were some things which needed to be done.

However, despite the acknowledgement, Hanzo could not help but think of history and his Japanese heritage courtesy of his mother. Despite all of the discrimination and the stares he had to endure since he was a child trying to survive mostly by himself on Vancouver Island, only because of who his mother was and the looks he inherited from her, features that resulted in stares, scowls as he walked by, the whispers or muttering behind his back when they thought he wasn't listening, the taunts, punks trying to bully or challenge him, and the countless times he had been called a ' Gook ' or ' Jap ' during his service in Vietnam. He knew it wasn't fair and of course, he had grown up hating it, which was part of why he had chosen to volunteer to go to Vietnam, to finally prove everyone wrong that ever thought less of him. He wanted to follow in his father's footsteps when he had been a young man volunteering to fight in the Canadian Army during World War II, even though this had meant Hanzo would have to instead serve in the American Military due to Canada not being at war, he signed on regardless, he wasn't gonna let discrimination get in his way.

But instead, Hanzo had found more of the same with those that saw him as nothing more but a gook in their eyes, more challenges being presented to him, but even with all that he still earned at least a begrudging respect from those who doubted him at first.

Even so, Hanzo held a resentment for everything that he and his deceased family had been forced to endure, all still pinned towards what the Imperial Army of Japan had done, and what leaders like Hideki Tojo had either ordered or condoned despite their claims of honor yet some of the worst atrocities that were ever committed in history had tarnished the reputation and hard work of Canadians and Americans who only happened to have Japanese ancestry such as the case of his maternal grandparents. Despite not being in Manchuria or Shanghai whatsoever they were still treated the same. Hanzo's maternal grandfather had fought in the First World War to show he was willing to fight for Canada because he loved his new home, but like everyone else of Japanese descent, they were thrown into the internment camps, treated as enemy aliens and outcasts despite everything they had done to acculturate, to be treated as an equal. But he wasn't ignorant enough to assume it was any worse compared to what Imperial Japan had done to war prisoners or civilians under their occupation.

Still, his grandparents had died when a bad fever swept through their camp, and with the kind of conditions they had to live in during winters while being cramped together, it resulted in several deaths, the illness even almost claimed his mother but in the end, after the war had finally ended, she was still alive and had nothing else to return to, with the belongings and the land that her family had worked so hard for being sold off by the government without their permission.

' Mom never did like to talk much about what it was like trying to manage herself after the war before she had met Dad.'

It was something he had learned for himself as well, he's had to deal with such discrimination for most of his life, but from those who did as such to him, it had shown him what he needed to do to be a better man.

He felt that way would be honoring his deceased family more and living by their example. He learned how to ignore the stares, he learned how to keep his emotions in check, even when he felt the urge to. He would work harder than anyone else did, and he would dive into whatever work he could get into, doing what was needed of him, he had done the same in Vietnam and while it wasn't easy, his attitude earned him recognition, proving his potential and he wasn't gonna wallow or complain while petty racism or judgments continued to annoy him, he instead went to prove that he is a proud Canadian and that he would Stand Guard For Thee , just as his family did.

But going back to his analysis of the conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Mandalorians, Hanzo had found a level of disturbing comparisons of the Neo-Crusaders' zealotry with the Imperial Japanese Army and the brutal actions that they were committing, their thirst for conquest and glory. While he could not deny had been a great military leader and his prowess as a tactician goes without question, Hanzo found it intriguing that Cassus Fett was known for his stone-cold will and his unflinching calm composure regardless of what was happening, but his mindset and the actions he would commit reminded him of Hideki Tojo, though unlike Tojo, Cassus Fett was by far not ignorant or dismissive of foreigners. Cassus's actions on Cathar however still painted a darker picture of him and from what he had stumbled on, Cassus was also involved in the slavery the Neo Crusaders were conducting during that war.

It was no wonder why there was so much resentment and hatred for Mandalorians with recent actions not helping as most in this galaxy, the civilizations of the Condor Galaxy, only saw them as ' warmongers ' reputation that sees them as and there were officials back on Earth who were condemning their aggression but there were others who were largely laying their criticisms about the Mandalorian culture itself or just simply spreading propaganda against them like the Galactic Republic.

Still, he wondered where Marala stood on the subject.

Despite the dismissal held by most, Hanzo believed that instead of being brutes or savages the Mandalorians still held a strong sense of honor even if it was rugged and there had been plenty of similarities he found within their culture that were comparable to historical warrior cultures back on Earth with the Vikings and the Samurai being two examples. Thus despite what many would claim the Mandalorians were to the contrary not savages. They may be brutal and there were bloodthirsty killers to be found within their society but others were still proud warriors who held a noble code, something Hanzo found admirable, regardless they were still adept combatants and his thoughts drifted to Revan's tactics in countering the Mandalorians' viciousness and brutality. ' I wonder if Revan's actions that day on Malachor were one of the first decisions that led him to the Dark Side? Or was it the bloodbaths like Dxun which awoke something within him? '

Or did Revan ever truly fall at all? Did his decisions during the Mandalorian Wars reveal who he was as an individual? Were his choices always his own?

He wondered what had truly tipped Revan over into becoming a 'Dark Lord of the Sith' after he and Malak returned from the Unknown Regions but there was no doubt that Revan's actions in the following Jedi Civil War demonstrated his finesse toward warfare, one honed by the previous conflict and the fallen Jedi was strikingly meticulous in how he went into ensuring the worlds that he conquered were left largely unscathed and gathering resources despite the limitless possibilities of the Star Forge. The assassinations of several political figures across the galaxy like Senator Mimas Yoon of Corellia, Senator Lelin-Dor, and a popular Echani Senator were also traced to him.

Revan's unexpected decisions led Hanzo to suspect that there was a reason why Revan kept the Republic's political and economic infrastructure intact instead of destroying it and he speculated that Revan's main goal was not to destroy the Galactic Republic, instead, it seemed as if that he was trying to unite the galaxy and reform the Galactic Republic through conquest and total domination. The decisions and tactics in conquering worlds honestly reminded him of Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar but with modern tactics and modern knowledge involved.

But something else caught Hanzo's eye, he kept noticing the extensive casualty list of Jedi during the conflict. The numbers on the list were truly shocking to him, there were barely a hundred Jedi left after the Jedi Civil War, and even then, that hundred would soon disappear, eventually leading to the belief spreading across the galaxy that the Jedi Order was extinct, at least until the return of Meetra Surik from exile five years later.

There were even reports of grim to horrific discoveries that were being made by Republic Soldiers or Jedi of the state of prisoners that had been left in Sith Prisons, they were raided during and after the war and Hanzo noticed how few of these said prisoners rescued were even Jedi compared to other Republic personnel, it had bared similarities to the current Sith Empire's treatment of prisoners-of-war and their methods of torture. This pattern also pointed to Revan having another goal, the destruction of the Jedi Order and he implemented measures including brainwashing to convert captured Jedi into Dark Jedi but who despite the methodology refused were killed.

Though many of his fellow Earthlings would read it and shrug it off as an instance of religious persecution by a disgruntled former monk, Hanzo felt to the contrary there was more to the Force and what this apparent Dark Side could do to a person, then there was his experiences back on Tython with one in particular standing out.

Hanzo was exploring the Ruins of Kaleath alone when he found a Force-imbued blade, one shaped like a katana resting beside a skeleton, and when he picked it up it had a strange reaction, as if the green energy that rolled off it was somehow trying to reach into him yet couldn't. That was when a team of Jedi researchers approached and Hanzo gave the blade to an Iktotchi Jedi Master who went into a trance and he wouldn't respond to them till one of the Padawans snapped him out of it. The last he would see of the sword was when it had been handed over to the Kel Dor Jedi Master, Gnost-Dural, after they had returned to the Temple.

He shook the memories off and went back to focusing on reading.

Barring the flaws Revan had or his morally questionable decisions and actions, he was still a rather complex figure who drew Hanzo's attention, and the Prodigal Knight was reverted to the Light Side through questionable means: The idea that the Jedi Council brainwashed Revan and wiped his memory didn't set well with Hanzo but it had made him glad of his immunities to the Force. Still, he wondered if there were limits to it.

Regardless, Revan would still ironically go on to save the galaxy from the man who betrayed him, Darth Malak, and the adventures that Revan would have with the crew of the Ebon Hawk honestly made Hanzo hope that the plans for this ' Star Wars ' movie being developed by George Lucas would depict the events as accurately as possible while still being entertaining and he also hoped that the film would honor not just Revan but the crew of the Ebon Hawk , including:

The famed expert pilot and decorated Republic war hero Carth Onasi. The man held an impressive record of service during the Mandalorian Wars and Hanzo felt sympathetic to the fact his mentor, Admiral Saul Karath, had betrayed him and would even bomb his homeworld of Telos IV, a bombardment that would not only kill millions of Telosians but also his wife and Onasi would continue to serve the Galactic Republic as a highly respected Admiral.

Then there was the proud Jedi Padawan, Bastila Shan, who played a key role in the Jedi Civil War, not only because she had the rare ability of Battle Meditation but the fact she led a Jedi strike force that boarded Revan's flagship intending to end him as a threat but instead she chose to save Revan. It was in this instance when Darth Malak used the opportunity to betray his master and ordered his ship to be destroyed but the two escaped and Bastila's decision made Hanzo wonder if perhaps Bastila and Revan had shared a past. Whatever the case, she had been the one responsible for bringing him to the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine and the Canadian couldn't help but note the irony that it would be Revan who would bring Bastila back to the light after she had fallen to the Dark Side herself and became the apprentice of Darth Malak. Hanzo could only imagine what Darth Malak did to her that had ultimately made her swear loyalty to him but after returning to the Light she would assist Revan with the destruction of the Star Forge and Bastilla would even become his wife after the war, a fact which surprised him considering the Jedi's view on love.

And yet another crucial member of the team was the feared Mandalorian mercenary, Canderous Ordo, who would go on to become Mandalore the Preserver. The story of Canderous intrigued Hanzo and the biographies on the warrior had shed some much-needed light about the Mandalorians though it was unfortunate that his legacy as Mandalore has been more-or-less disregarded given how the Mandalorians including Clan Ordo were now allied with the Sith Empire currently. There was even a civil war amongst the Mandalorians that was fought several years ago over his ideals and Mandalore the Vindicated crushed the rebel clans. Still, Hanzo respected the rebel chieftain Jicoln Cadera who attempted to defend the legacy of Canderous Ordo, recalling there were rumors that Jicoln was still alive somewhere in the galaxy.

Another was the eccentric old Grey Jedi hermit and veteran of the Great Sith War, Jolee Bindo. Just like Canderous, Jolee's adventures during his time before the Ebon Hawk honestly reminded him of what he had read about Zayne Carrick's adventures, especially the fact the two had largely remained as Pawadans throughout their adventures and both would even later on go on to serve on the Jedi High Council though in Jolee's case, it was more of an absentee role.

The Cathar Jedi Knight, Juhani, certainly made him raise his eyebrow. She had a hard life after escaping her homeworld of Cathar during the Mandalorian invasion: She struggled on Taris, endured the murder of her father and the death of her mother, it had stirred old memories in Hanzo in reading about her mother, the inner- conflicts in trying to be a Jedi Knight, and despite her brief fall to the Dark Side, Hanzo had to respect her resolve and determination after Revan helped brought her back to reason in the groves of Dantooine. Juhani was not without her flaws but she went on to become an outstanding Jedi Knight after being heavily inspired by Revan's example and she would even go on to serve as a member of the High Jedi Council years later after surviving the Jedi Civil War and even the Great Purge that had forced her into hiding until remerging after the Dark Wars had ended.

The Twi'lek street urchin, Mission Vao and her Wookie companion Zaalbar. They were a duo that fascinated him and Hanzo even chuckled a little after reading about some of their shenanigans. Mission, despite her young age of fourteen, was gifted and proved to be a natural survivor, not to mention a true loyal friend to the crew and her Wookie companion Zaalbar. Hanzo was enraged after learning that her deadbeat older brother had abandoned her on Taris and he briefly wondered if anyone gave Grif a well-deserved smack for his irresponsibilities.

Her companion Zaalbar also caught his eye, he felt sympathy for the Wookie after he was exiled despite rightfully confronting his own brother Chuundar who betrayed his people and cooperated with the Czerka Corporation. Hanzo felt satisfaction upon reading how Chuundar met his fitting end and how the Wookiees with the crew's assistance evicted Czerka from Kashyyyk. The two after the war would even go on to create a shipping firm that would expand greatly and even play a contributing role in the galaxy's recovery from the horrific devastations of the Jedi Civil War. He wondered if any of their descendants are running around somewhere in the galaxy?

The utility droid, T3-M4. A simple droid at first glance but one which had proven itself both loyal and reliable, always doing its utmost to help the crew of the Ebon Hawk since they escaped the devastation of Taris at the hands of Darth Malak. Despite doubts by others in the crew, T3-M4 had always pulled through, even traveling with the Jedi Exile five years later after the Jedi Civil War, and after mysteriously disappearing into the Unknown Regions along with the Exile after the Sith Triumvirate was defeated, the droid was unexpectedly returned to the Republic by ironically the Sith delegation negotiating what would become the infamous Treaty of Coruscant and refurbished but Hanzo felt commiserate for the droid as its status as a permanent exhibit and being displayed like an animal at a zoo was still a contentious matter.

And then there was the bloodthirsty Assassin Droid, HK-47, who made it a habit of reappearing and disappearing to even current events, that had surprised him despite being reportedly destroyed at the Battle of Ilum. After what he had read about the droid, Hanzo concluded that HK-47 was quite possibly the most dangerous assassin droid that had ever been fabricated.

His attention on his datapad was intercepted however when he heard the doors opening and a familiar mug appeared through the doorway that brought a smile to his face.

"Hey Marala, you were able to get past through Nurse Sonnu I see..." Her smile brought a warmth in Hanzo's heart.

---

Private First Class Jake Gregory Meyer - Fireteam Alpha, Second Squad, First Platoon, C/Charlie Company, Second Raider Battalion "Carlson's Raiders", Second Raider Regiment, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps

Fort Duqua Dar - Quadrant G-19, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Core Wars, Republic Space, "The Galaxy"

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969 - 19:45 / 7:45 PM

"I can't believe that I'm saying this but I was wrong calling Revan senile." Jake muttered after finishing the last page. "It's Carth Onasi who's not right in the head."

"What's you mean?"

"I don't know how any sane person could arbitrarily dismiss an inexpiable act such as this and while at it he might as well have let rapists walk away scot-free but quoting this passage, Carth believed that some were above the law: 'While Carth despised Malak and the Sith for turning to the dark side and betraying the Republic, he especially hated the non-Force-sensitive soldiers who defected. He viewed them as even worse than the Sith and undeserving of mercy because the dark side had nothing to do with their choices.' In other words, Carth Onasi thought the Farce, sorry, I mean the Force is a legitimate get out of jail free card thereby ignoring the principle that everyone is equally held accountable to the law. You're either a traitor or you're not, no exceptions."

"That's a fair point." Sam concurred. "Just because one is a space wizard, it shouldn't mean that they couldn't be prosecuted."

"The best comparison to Revan is the ever-to-be condemned Benedict Arnold. Both were revered and respected generals until they decided to betray their country." The Marine sneered. "I can respect the battle prowess, I can respect him being a master tactician in his day but Revan should have been hanged by the Republic for his treason and war crimes, not reinstated. Redeemed my ass."

"Still, Jake, I'm starting to wonder if this Force is at the very least probable and there's science here that vindicates it."

Meyer gazed at him awkwardly, not expecting his friend to defend the nonsense. "Scientific research and analytics with flaws are still flawed."

"I'm not denying it but at the same time I can't just shrug and say that it's just magic either like an arbitrary skeptic." Westbrook reasoned. "For all I could know, even Earth used to have these so-called ' Force Adepts ' until they were persecuted for witchcraft yet that doesn't explain the lack of these midichlorians or why telekinesis doesn't work on anything originating from our galaxy. I'm sorry but I'm still agnostic and unsure over this."

"As Voltaire once declared 'While I may not agree with what you say, I will still defend it until my dying breath'. However, I'm sticking to my guns and we just have to agree to disagree."

"Not to mention that it's getting ever closer to Christmas." The Paratrooper grinned. "By the way, when you're done with it, is it alright if I borrow your book about those German knights?"

Jake shrugged as he picked up the book and handed it over to Sam. "Here you are. I've honestly read it four times already."

Sam flipped to a random page but as he read the passage he couldn't help but to admit that the claim by his friend was surprisingly not outrageous and narrow-minded but actual historical fact. "Hey, you're right! The Teutonic Order was more badass than the puny Templars!" Sam chuckled as he stared at the illustrations of the Knights fighting Ayyubids, Mamluks, and Saracens in the Levant, Cumens in Hungary, Baltic Pagans, Polish-Lithuanians, and Russians of the historic city-state known as the Novgorod Republic, not to mention that the Teutons were even brave enough to stand firm against the infamous Mongols when the nomadic horse archers attempted to sack all of Europe.

From the sands of the Middle East to the snowy forests and tundra of the Baltics, the Deutscher Orden were in the literal sense ruthless zealots and coldblooded combatants who took not even a single prisoner unless ordered to, and even then, the enemy that hunkered behind their shields more often than not prayed for salvation upon sight of the recognizable horns on the helmets and black crosses on white mantles charging at their line, wishing for whatever deity they worship would intervene on their behalf as the Teutonic Order were indisputably the best equipped and organized faction of Knights in all of Christendom, the Order not allowing mere wooden shields stand between them and destroying the heretics who foolishly decide on confronting them instead of waiting for their already sealed fate.

"I can't believe these guys were underrated as they fought more battles and participated in more campaigns but then again the Templars only became popular due to the persecution and rumors of riches, over glorified bankers in other words."

"I told you." Jake grinned with understandable smugness, glad that Sam got the picture."The pathetic Templars have nothing over the Teutonic Knights. Those overrated red cross wearers would have turned tail or begged to be burned at the stake as heretics after seeing the helmets adorned with horns and black crosses on the white surcoats."

"Not to mention that unlike the Templars whose reign as a status symbol ended short, the Teutonic Knights created their own nation, the State of the Teutonic Order, which later evolved into Prussia." Sam snickered as he remembered reading about Frederick the Great. "Voltaire wasn't wrong in proclaiming Prussia to be an Army with a state."

"Even Napoleon himself admitted that Prussia was hatched from a cannonball." Jake shrugged while still amused by the change of opinion after a reading of history. To him, the Templars as an institution truly would have been relegated to a mere footnote if the rumors were never circulated as the Teutons were justifiably the superior Order when it came to might on the battlefields of the Middle Ages. "Funnily enough, the Teutonic Order still exists as a charity and that also is thanks to Napoleon. Though while Prussia may be forever gone, its legacy and impact on the world is still felt today."

---

Thijs Visser - Bailiwick of Utrecht of the Teutonic Order

Utrecht, Province of Utrecht, Netherlands, Europe, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

08:25:16 ATC /Monday, August 25th, 1969- 19:45 / 7:45 PM

"Hallo. We were wondering if you're interested in donating to the Republic's War Orphans Fund?"

"Of course. They're our allies after all."

"Bedankt." Brother Visser appreciated the generosity of the donor before departing.

"You know, I still can't believe that the Jedi thought that we were exactly like them back during First Contact and the resulting diplomacy." Brother Janssen smirked. "We are not Shaolin Monks."

"Yes but in all fairness Napoleon Bonaparte forced us to never be a militaristic order again back in 1809. However, I believe we do better service to God as a charity and purely religious institution instead of being combatants. We did evolve with the times afterall."

"Helfen, Wehren, Heilen." Janssen smiled as he quoted the Order's centuries old motto. "Help, Defend, Heal. We'll live to those vows until the Holy Spirit calls us."

"Amen, broeder." Thijs agreed. "And may the Lord continue to guide us evermore."

---

I think it was only fair to include an allusion to Indiana Jones given how Star Wars is still being produced in a way and while I'm not sure how many of the readers decided to read the first chapter of a prequel titled What's Come Over This World? (which will be continued at some undetermined time) I will confirm that there will be a few appearances of the Northcott's in this story as well as a certain Iraqi who would have been conscripted.

In case you were wondering, George Smith Patton IV was an actual individual and he was the son of Old Blood and Guts (in fact he was his only son and Bandito also had two daughters). Additionally:

1) After finishing his tour in Vietnam, George Smith Patton IV went on to command the 2nd Armored Division (The "Hell on Wheels" Division) that his famous father had commanded just before the U.S. entered World War II, making it the first time in the history of the United States Army that a father and a son had both commanded the same division.

And

2) George S. Patton IV became close friends with Manfred Rommel and David Montgomery, the sons of you guess it: Erwin Rommel and Bernard Montgomery respectfully.

In fact, both Manfred Rommel and George S. Patton IV shared the SAME Birthday; December 24th, Christmas Eve no less.

Talk about a coincidence.

Also, Arthur MacArthur IV was the son and only child of United States General of the Army and Field Marshal of the Philippines Douglas MacArthur. Like Manfred, Arthur did not have a career in the military and in reality Arthur never wore the uniform at all. Manfred, by contrast, was a Luftwaffenhelfer, also known as a Flakhelfer. While admittedly Manfred did consider joining the Waffen SS (and this was before most Germans became aware of the Holocaust and the wartime atrocities committed), his father Erwin was aghast and he managed to talk his son out of it.

And it seems like the Communist Bloc has something up their sleeves. The downtrodden masses in the undercity seem likely candidates for…

*Cough awkwardly*

A potential Communist Revolution on a planetary and even intergalactic scale as a contingency, anyone?

Then there's Joe Pyne, the literal Bill O'Reilly, Tucker Carlson, & Sean Hannity of his day, interviewing Tohil Rans and Dan Smoot talking to his former boss and Roy Cohn on the matter of rooting out spies, the Patriarch of the Kennedy family wishing that his firstborn son became President instead of his secondborn and the revelation that the Weather Underground Organization - which by the way was an actual group of terrorists - popped the bubble known as Camelot.

Also, Hanzo is making a recovery from the injuries he sustained and while I have debated including the church scene as portrayed due to people i.e. SJWs getting easily offended nowadays, I ultimately decided to include it not just to show additional background but to also help clarify the reasoning behind the dramatic irony of doubting the Force plot-wise and to be fair, if you think about it logically, the concept does make sense:

If one day aliens show up with peaceful intentions and declare openly on camera that they have proof that their deity exists and everything from Islam to Christianity and Hinduism to Shintoism is either flawed or entirely false, would everyone immediately begin worshipping their religion due to said 'evidence'?

Having the Force be accepted wholeheartedly with no questions asked or without debate is arguably one of the biggest clichè here when it comes to Earth in Star Wars fanfics, something which realistically wouldn't happen, and in fact there are Force skeptics, atheists if you prefer, that exist in Star Wars with Han Solo initial doubt in A New Hope being the most obvious example but another is Phow Ji, a character who appeared in the novel MedStar I: Battle Surgeons but it should go without saying that despite showing skepticism or even outright dismissal of the phenomenon it doesn't mean that everyone is being close-minded about it.

For instance: Sam is agnostic to it (for those who don't know, it means he can't either confirm its existence nor prove it's a falsehood) , Hanzo is curious and intrigued by it, and even the former Secretary-General of the United Nations is embracing it, nevermind Ronald Reagan, and there's this famous quote by famed British statesman Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill:

The destiny of man is not measured by material computations. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we're spirits—not animals… There's something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty.

Though yes while there are going to be detractors here, others are not going to be dismissive and hopefully this helps clear up the reasoning around it in case anyone was wondering if I was nuts or something, and while you don't have to agree with my reasoning, it to me at least seems sensible, especially with arbitrary skepticism and philosophical disputes as well as theological differences and scientific debates in mind.

Oh and I just remembered, while they were only referenced so far, the famed Shaolin Monks will be making an appearance fighting Sith soon.

To clarify: Not in the next few chapters but sooner than later.

Yes, THE Kung-Fu fighting, orange-cloth robe-wearing, adherents of Buddhist virtues Shaolin Monks of the Shaolin Temple. Who would've guessed? :P In fact when this chapter was published, I'm honestly blown away that no other Earth in Star Wars fanfic here on this site had used the Shaolin Monks yet despite being arguably fitting for such a plot, just saying, and therefore a wasted opportunity.

So I guess this counts as another instance of E:ARwD being a first in going where no other such tale has gone before! :)

P.S.S. The Teutonic Order was the superior militaristic order during the Medieval Era and they would have triumphed over the Templars if hypothetically the organizations fought one another.

Despite the presumably unpopular opinion I hold, I base my opinion on the historical record and therefore thanks to the credibility of the sources about the different militaristic orders that fought in the Crusades against the Saracens and other groups labeled as heretics by the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages, nothing will convince me otherwise.

And believe it or not, the Teutonic Order does still exist but as a mere charity.

You can blame Napoleon Bonaparte I of France one hundred percent on disestablishing it as a Militaristic Order in 1809.

As a matter of fact here are a few official websites:

h tt ps (insert a colon and two slashes here) www (insert a dot here) rdo (insert a dot here) nl /en/home-english/

h tt ps (insert a colon and two slashes here) www (insert a dot here) deutscher-orden (insert a dot here) at /site/lang/en

teutonicorder (insert a dot here) com

Oh, and remnants of the Hospitallers also still exist as well apparently but of course everyone knows the fate of the Templars.